Page 64 of Edge of Unbroken

“Nah, man, I’m good,” Elias tries to say, but his eyes keep shutting on him, and I’m pretty sure Tensley is already asleep with her head on the table.

“Will you help me get these three to the truck?” I ask Miranda, who nods and gets up from her chair.

Luckily, Devin is steady enough on his feet to get Tensley up and out of Sterling’s while Miranda convinces Elias to walk to the truck with her. He walks slowly, tripping a couple of times, all while consistently making comments to Miranda about how hot she is.

“Alright, Casanova, why don’t you just go sit in the truck and maybe close your eyes for a little bit,” Miranda laughs, but is immediately silenced when Elias makes good on his earlier comment and awkwardly pulls Miranda into him before kissing her.

I chuckle quietly, shaking my head. “Smooth.”

“Woah,” Miranda laughs, pulling back from Elias. “You’re kind of handsy.”

“You taste good,” Elias says. “Was it a good kiss, though?”

“Oh yeah, best I’ve ever had.” She rolls her eyes so hard I worry they’ll get stuck.

“Alright, man, get in the truck,” I tell Elias with a chuckle.

He clumsily clambers into the truck cabin. “You should stop by the ranch sometime, Randi. You haven’t been there in forever. Would love to taste you some more,” Elias says, obviously feeling the full force of that liquid courage he pounded back.

I press my lips together to stop myself from laughing out loud.

“Oh, I was actually just there to see Rony Tuesday night and we snuck out together,” Miranda says, making her voice sound innocent.

I see the disappointment in Elias’s face before he shuts the passenger door without another word.

“Crap, Randi, he’ll probably rat on me to my grandparents,” I say with a frown.

She only laughs. “No, he won’t. Trust me, he’s so wasted he won’t remember anything in the morning.”

“You better be right, otherwise I can expect a fucking earful from my grandmother.”

“Always and forever the good boy,” she giggles, then wraps her arms around me and hugs me tightly.

Sunday, January 9th

Cat

Well, I guess it was only a matter of time before it was my turn to get sick. Something has been going around school and, one by one, we’ve all gotten it. It started with Vada and Tori just before Christmas break, and it eventually hit Shane, Steve, Summer, Zack, and now me.

I thought I felt something coming on yesterday but tried to ignore that raw feeling in the back of my throat. But it only got worse, and by the time Vada finally dropped me off at home last night I was sure the throbbing headache that made my skull feel too small for my brain wasn’t the result of the information Vada had shared with me or her fight with Steve.

When I woke up this morning I could barely swallow, and my throat felt like it was on fire. So I texted Tori, Vada, and Summer that I wasn’t going to make it to brunch at Murphy’s with them today.

My health has only deteriorated as the day progressed, and I’ve stayed in bed all morning and early afternoon, not even bothering to change out of Ronan’s t-shirt.

My nose is now running nonstop, and I’ve blown it so much already that it’s beginning to feel chapped. Add to that the chills and body aches and I’m about ready to fall asleep again—until my cell phone rings and Ronan’s beautiful face lights up my screen with the Montana number he calls me from displayed in white numerals.

“Hi sweet boy,” I croak. I make a face when I swallow. My throat feels like I drank straight kerosene.

“Hey baby, are you alright?” he asks, concern in his velvety voice.

“I’m sick.” I can’t stop myself from coughing into the phone.

“Oh no,” he says, exhaling deeply. “How shitty are you feeling?”

“Really shitty; my nose feels like a freaking faucet, my throat hurts, and I have a headache from hell. I felt like I was getting sick yesterday and then just woke up like this today.”

“I’m sorry baby. Do you want me to let you go so you can get some rest?”

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