Page 124 of Did They Break You

Not a new fucking computer.

“Don’t lie to me,” I say quietly, setting the cover and sleeve aside and flipping over the box of my new laptop. My heart swells despite my guilt. She knows my keyboard is sticking and my memory is depleting.And she knows I’d never ask Silas for money for a new one.

She doesn’t even know what he did that night, but she knows we don’t get along.

I have some savings, but I didn’t want to waste it all on this.

“I’m not,” she assures me, scrambling back up on her bed and tossing down the empty bag below, shoving all the black tissue paper into it. “I hope you like it.”

I look up then, my eyes locking on hers. She tucks a lock of hair behind her ear, smeared with her face mask.

I grin at her, thinking about all of our years of friendship. Despite our differences, she’s never pushed me aside. I think she could’ve done a lot cooler things and had way more friends if she had, but she never did.

“I love it,” I tell her. “And I love you too.”

She flashes her white teeth again and leans in, pulling me toward her for a hug. I know she’s got her green mask on my hoodie, but I don’t care. I’ve got like a dozen of them anyway.

“Love you too, Rems,” she says in my ear, and I feel it again.

That guilt, eating me alive.

CHAPTER

THIRTY-THREE

CORTLAND

Chase

We’ll be there before you get there.

Brinklin

Yeah, because you drive like a dumbass.

Chase

You’re welcome.

Brinklin

If we don’t make it, it’s because Chase flipped the Mercedes.

Chase

At least I have a Mercedes to flip.

Storm

Stop fucking texting me.

I stare at my screen,waiting for Storm to get in the truck. We’re going to Grim Mountain tonight, because apparently, EU students descend to that place every fall. And it’s officially fall.

Today.

Which means it’s Remi’s birthday. And this is a bye week. I’d planned to have her come with me to Grim. She loved being outdoors. In nature. It was one of many things I loved about her. Mention camping to Maya and she almost threw up.

But I watch a text come through from Maya.

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