Page 85 of Lost Boy
I can’t help it. I do.
CHAPTERTWENTY-FOUR
RYDER
That dead look is back in Fallon’s eyes, and I fucking hate it. It’s like we’re back to day one when he was prickly and wouldn’t talk to me. I can barely concentrate, my thoughts scattered, focusing solely on my boyfriend and what could have happened to him.
Is he really okay?
Why won’t he talk to me?
He’s so small, and the thought of anyone roughing him up again has me fuming. I should have been there, not out running. Always worried about myself and basketball.
Fuck!
But I won’t let him shut me out and lock his feelings away like he’s trying to. He’s made too much progress.
Luckily, the final test is the team obstacle course in the trees. And even though I’m distracted, Cole, Jamie, and I nail it on the first try. I’m sure we’ll be the fastest group of the morning. No doubt.
We have to show good sportsmanship and watch everyone else. But I’m secretly dying inside, desperate to get back to Fallon. I don’t like that vacant stare, and Ihatethat I left him like that.
When Dustin, Seth, and Rich saw me waiting by our instructor, right on time and first in line, they did a double take, mouths gaping comically.
They huddled together, discussingsomethingwhile their eyes flicked over to me. Not subtle in the slightest. And they’re doing itagainright now!
“What the fuck are those idiots doing?” Cole asks, standing next to me and witnessing the whole thing.
“Dunno. Probably planning something.”
Or maybe they already carried out their plan. Something clearly happened.
But why would Fallon hide it from me?
“They’re looking shifty as fuck, and I don’t like it. Watch your back, Cruz. Fallon’s too.”
Fuck. I wish I had been.
Cole storms away to cheer on our teammates trapped in a rope net about twenty feet up.
“Did something happen?” Jamison’s calm, easy tone settles some of the nerves bubbling up inside of me about what the fuck happened to Fallon.
“I don’t know, Jamie. And that’s what’s got me on edge.”
“How do you not know?”
“Well,somethinghappened. Fallon came hobbling back to the campsite in hisunderwear, Jamie! Not even socks! And he has a red mark across his cheek. But he won’t tell me anything. He shut down. Completely. That was right before I came here. Perfect fucking timing.” I run a rough hand through my messy curls, getting tangled and yanking hard.
“Fuck!”
What did they do to him?
“I’m going to ask them what they did,” I say with a cool detachment, ice running through my veins and slowing my heart.
Maybe I’m a little numb, like how Fallon probably feels right now after they did whatever they did to him.
Iknowthey did something.Bastardos.
I take one step forward, and Jamie grabs my shoulderhard, grounding me. “No. You’re not. We’ve got thirty minutes tops. That’s it. Half an hour before we can leave. Go our separate ways and see them one last time when we hand them their fucking asses on the court. Okay?” He gives me a little shake. “Don’t start shit right now, Ry. You won’t get to play on Friday. Don’t you understand why Fallon didn’t tell you about whatever happened to him? It’s his way of protecting you. Don’t you get that? He knows how much basketball means to you. And because of how much you mean to him, he stayed silent. So respect his wishes, and just finish this out. Stay right here, next to me. Watch Cody, Andy, and Mitch finish. Rather pathetically, actually. Look.” Jamie ticks his head toward the trees, and I snort a laugh at the way Cody is currently hanging horizontally through the net, clinging on for dear life.
