Page 31 of Break Your Fall

The beach has mostly cleared out, people having packed up their stuff and headed off the sand as soon as the show ended. Shelby left with them, after I was able to finally convince her I’m fine and want to spend some alone time with the waves.

“Riding solo to that whole new world?”

I chuckle despite myself as the blanket dips beside me again, Julian and Camille filling the empty spot. He settles behind her and she leans her back against his chest.

“Everybody else fell off,” I say back, my tone hitting closer to home. “Where were you guys?”

Camille points a thumb at Julian. “This guy wanted to watch from the pier.”

“Alone with mygirlfriend,” Julian adds, pointedly, and Camille squirms with a groan that makes him laugh. “You’ll have to accept that label someday.”

“Mm, and I bet you’ll want me to call you myboyfriend, too.”

Julian nods through a smile. “Yeah, that’d be good.”

I find myself smiling, too, at Camille’s feigned stubbornness—she gives me a secret grin—right up until the smile drops from my face. I wonder when I’ll be able to feel completely happy for them without a clinch in my stomach.

Iwon’tbe able to until Reyna can. It’s impossible to be happy about something that hurts her—even if thatsomethinginvolves my best friends.

“Is that face about us or about you?” Camille questions my returning glum look.

“Both,” I say, trying to keep my tone light so they won’t try to dig too deep right now. “You’ve given me and Reyna your problems.”

Camille chuckles back at Julian. “We’re contagious.”

“What are you talking about?” Julian asks me, and my attempt at lightness fractures.

“Reyna’s heartbroken, and now my parents are separating,” spills from my mouth through a sigh.

Camille and Julian lean toward me, speaking in unison of “What?” and “Seriously?” and I’m shaking my head, rushing to shake off their concerned disbelief.

“Yeah, I wanted to tell you, but I don’t really wanna talk about it right now.” There’s a moment of hesitation and an exchanged look before they relent back to their original position. “My mom’s been doing all the talking to your mom,” I add to Julian, watching his face for a reaction, and I get one, but it’s not the one I expect—he looks enlightened, like he’s heard the answer to a long-asked question. Now I’m questioning him with my stare.

“I knew she was talking to someone behind closed doors, but I thought it was just my dad.” Julian’s fingers thread through Camille’s and I feel mine still wrapped around my phone.

“So, Reyna never showed?” Camille probes, a knowing presumption in her tone.

“No,” I say, my voice tight as I slip my phone inside my pocket, mentally telling it toStay.

Julian sighs. “She’s still with Banks.”

I make a face at the memory of the last time we found out Reyna was with Banks. “What?” I say now. “Stillwith Banks?”

“She went into his guest room this morning, then they left together,” Camille informs me, making me aware I was the only onenotinformed, topping off her suggestive tone with a flick of her brows.

“Don’t say it like that,” I protest, recoiling at the images.

Camille doesn’t try to contain her amusement as Julian adds, “And I got a text from him. ‘Me and Blondie’ with three exclamation points. Even when he’s trying to ignore me, he can’t resist a brag.”

“Change your number until we can change our address,” Camille says.

They continue going back and forth—ideas of ways to make Banks miserable so he’ll move out of the house, mostly from Camille—but I tune them out as I look up at the stars, singing Bobby McFerrin in my head, and despite what he’s encouraging me to do, Iamworried, and I’m nowherenearhappy about the thoughts talking over the song.What could Banks and Reyna be getting into?

Nothing. They’re fine. What could go wrong? What could be worse than TPing houses and breaking boards?

So many things.So many things go wrong with Banks involved. Andeverythingis worse now.

“He cares about her,” Julian cuts through, trying to assure me, but those words, spoken withBanksin mind, do nothing to relieve my concern.

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