Page 116 of A Little Broken

“We’ll get through it,” I promise, though I’m not exactly convinced. Picking up my latte, I take a sip, hoping the creamy cup of deliciousness will find a way to calm me down.

Great, Tate.Let’s turn to substance abuse to fix our problems, shall we?

Blah. I can still hear my old therapist’s voice warning me about substance abuse after I came home sloshed at seventeen and my parents had to hold my hair back as I puked my guts out.

Like Pax did last night.

I repeat,blah.

With a sigh, I decide to focus on someone else’s trauma for once. “You sure you’re ready to face Jax again?” I ask.

Rory scowls back at me. “Not in the slightest?—”

“Squeaks?” a low voice interrupts.

Squeaks?

No one calls Rory Squeaks unless they’re from Lockwood Heights.

My body tenses, and I stare at my coffee, willing the universe to stop hating me for one day. One. Freaking. Day. If only I was so lucky.

Eyes bulging, Rory pastes on a smile and stares up at someone behind me. “Dodge!” When she stands, the infamous Dodger Anders pulls her into a hug. He towers over the girl, making her look like a little kid as he squeezes her tight before releasing her and turning his attention to me. “Tatum, right?”

“That’s me,” I confirm. “It’s been awhile.”

“Yeah, a few years, right?”

I nod. “Crazy how time flies.”

“Like the wind,” he agrees.

“You should sit with us,” Rory offers. “Like Tatum said, it’s been forever, and I’d love to catch up. How are you? How’s the band and everything?”

“On hiatus at the moment.” He leans closer. “Apparently, family drama can be found outside of Lockwood Heights, too. Shocker, am I right?” He plops down into the booth and spreads his legs wide beneath the table.

“Well, at least we’re not alone,” Rory muses, tossing me a knowing look.

Reading Rory’s expression, Dodge asks, “Wait, is there family drama I don’t know about? New or old?”

“A mix,” Rory confirms, grimacing. “I’m not sure if the cat is officially out of the bag, but, uh, Mav proposed, so…yay.”

“No shit?” He laughs. “That’s amazing. Congrats to them.”

“Yeah.” Rory smiles. “It’ll be…great.”

“Great,” he repeats. “You don’t sound very optimistic.”

“It’s just…Lockwood Heights, am I right?”

He chuckles. “Right.”

Right?What’s his problem with Lockwood Heights? I study the side of his face while searching my memory for any kind of hint or clue Rory might’ve dropped in the last handful of yearsas to why Dodger might be running from Lockwood Heights, but I come up empty. If I’m being honest, I usually avoid all things Dodger—and everything family related—so it’s not like it’s Rory’s fault I’m left in the dark. But still. Something doesn’t add up.

Feeling my stare, Dodger’s attention slides to me. “What? You’re surprised?”

“Maybe a little,” I admit. “I thought Rory’s and my Lockwood Heights baggage was for a party of two.”

“I wish. You’re not the only one who prefers to keep their hometown where it belongs.” He dips closer. “Fucking behind them.”

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