Page 103 of Hell or High Water

Epilogue

I couldn’t see him among the crowd of people in the stands, but I knew he was there. Along with Bane, Halo, Gathe, and Jayda. The football field was filled with my peers. Some I’d gone to school with since elementary school. Others who had come later in high school. I might not have finished my year as a senior at Monroe High, but it was fitting that this was where it ended.

Momma would have loved it. She’d have embarrassed me by yelling out in the crowd when I walked onto the stage to take my diploma. My eyes pricked with tears as I thought about her. I wanted to believe she’d be happy for me. She’d be proud of me. I hoped that she got to watch me today.

The cheers went up as our class was announced and snapped me out of my thoughts. Reaching for my cap, smiling brightly, I tossed it into the air with the other six hundred that flew high above our heads.

Happy shouts of, “We did it,” and, “We survived,” and, “Bring on college,” all went up with them.

I hadn’t decided yet on my next step. The past few months had been filled with a whirlwind of changes. Jericho’s sins had all come out after his death—well, almost all of them. The family had kept my relationship to him a secret, but it was the only thing they protected. He had been shot coming out of a motel room with a nineteen-year-old prostitute.

There was no saving his reputation after that, nor was there a reason to.

Than had wanted me to move into the house he shared with the others. I couldn’t do that. I felt like it was asking too much, and when I kept refusing and telling him I was getting an apartment, he moved a house onto the property his father owned. Living together had been a big step, although that was how this all had started.

Smiling, I followed the other graduates as we made our way out to the family and friends waiting on us. Somehow, Than had gotten the principal at my old high school in Monroe to allow me to graduate with my class there.

“Montana!”

I turned at the sound of Mallory’s voice. She was all smiles as she ran up to me.

“We did it!” she said, clapping her hands with excitement. “I’m so glad you got to graduate with us.”

“Me too.”

She scrunched her nose and gave me an odd look. “This is weird, but I was asked to give you this. Sorry if it’s creepy or whatever, but I think my brother’s friend has a crush on you. I told him you had a new hottie badass boyfriend.” She rolled her eyes, then laughed as she held out a blue letter, folded into a heart.

I heard someone come up to talk to her, and I took the letter before she started her giddy celebration with them. My heart thumped in my chest, and I felt queasy as I moved away from Mallory and the other girl to unfold the note.

Why had Wayon sent me something? He was supposed to leave me alone. If Than found out…he might actually kill Wayon.

My hands trembled as I straightened out the edges. Then I stared down at the few words written in his familiar script.

Montana,

You’re welcome.

It was one last gift to you. I hope it righted my wrongs.

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