Page 65 of Break Your Fall

“How are you going to move on? I mean, look at what happened with Shelby. . .”

Mom’s mouth moves with the rest of her words, but my ears don’t catch them. Ican’tmove on. I don’twantto move on; that doesn’t even feel possible. But I understand my mom’s meaning without having to take in what she’s saying now. I can’t fall in love with another girl without having to lose Reyna, but I can’t imagine my life without her in it. She’s my best friend. She’s the center of my world.

She’sitfor me.

I wouldn’t survive.

“Well,” Mom says now when she sees she’s not getting anything else out of me. “You don’t have long to decide what you’re gonna do. About Blareton,” she clarifies, shifting the conversation back to the start. “And Tommy, just know that whatever you decide, I’ll do anything I can to help.”

“I know,” I say with a nod, pulling her in for another hug. “I love you.”

She squeezes me tight. “I love you more.”

I’d argue that statement any other time, but for this moment, I remind her that she’s not alone, either. “And me too.”

“I know,” she says back, and I sigh, feeling a hundred times lighter.

19

Scream

Reyna

He dragged me out by my spikes!

I laugh down at Banks’s text, spinning tales, but confirming that Tommy would be alone tonight. I can believe that Tommy had to drag Banks out of here bysomething, but by his hair is a stretch. That’s Banks, though: hyperbolic. Just the way I like him.

The dramatics of the world have to stick together.

Drink with my dude, his next text says.Hey! You guys need to make up so we can drink together!

Yeah,I think through a scoff. Same sting, different burn.

“Hey,” Tommy greets me as he walks in, and I look up as I sit my phone on the bar. I’ve gotten better at not blushing every time I see him now after. . .

His approach is curious, a small smile pulling the corner of his mouth at my presence, his brows furrowing with concern.

I laugh at his many stances, then assure him before he asks, “Today’s fine. Just a text from Banks letting me know he’s been evicted.” I give him a pointed look, the look turning playful right as he tries to defend himself.

“Okay, I tried. That guy is insufferable.”

“Oh, I think you like him a little bit,” I tease and he gapes at me, the random jaw drop making me laugh harder.

“But it’s okay,” I assure him once I’ve composed myself. “Joke’s over, right? And what a funny joke it was.”

“It was hilarious,” he says with a straight face and I smile, my head tilting in the direction of the television.

“Well, if you don’t wanna get caught laughing some more,” I tease again, “you might wanna take that back before he comes looking for it.” My eyes look in that direction next and Tommy’s follow.

“Shit,” he mutters, eyeing Banks’s gaming console. He sighs, then perks up with a thought. “I could sell the thing for two and a half days rent and make it all worth it.”

“Don’t you dare,” I chide with a laugh and a smack to his arm.

He laughs back, holding his hands up in surrender. “I’m kidding. I won’t sell it.” He folds his lips between his teeth as he feigns consideration, then laughs again at my stare. “Reyna, I’m not gonna do that,” he assures me, and I make a half-teasing grunt of disbelief.

ItisBanks we’re talking about. I’ve seen what he can bring out of Tommy. It’s not far off of what he brings out of Camille.

“So, how bad is he to live with, really?” I ask, wanting the story from Tommy’s humorous perspective.

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