Page 5 of Love Me Steadfast
I follow my brother down a hallway painted an off-white, no pictures, to the first room. Beyond it are two more doors.
“Bathroom’s there,” Theo says, nodding at the middle one before leading me inside the guest room. There’s a queen bed, matching bedside table and dresser, and a closet. On the far side, a door opens to the wraparound deck.
“Thank you,” I say, trying to smile at Theo.
“Of course.” He sets my duffel on the bed and my violin on the floor. “I’m glad you came.” He rattles off some final details—where to find fresh towels, what time he’s leaving for his night shift at the hospital, and to make myself at home—but my mind’s gears feel stuck. Maybe it’s the long drive. Maybe it’s my irrational fear of Ollie attacking me in my sleep. Maybe it’s my worry about Morgan, and Dad, and what’s in store for us all.
How can I keep our secrets safe?
“Get some rest,” Theo says, and steps from the room.
William stands backlit in my doorway, his solid frame eating up the empty space. He looks as muscular and fit as ever, but I always knew he’d be an athlete for life. “I’m sorry about Morgan.”
I force back the tears with a hard swallow. Not going to cry right now. I can’t. “Was it awful?”
The planes of his chiseled jaw harden. “Scary. But she made it.”
I release a slow sigh, puffing my cheeks. I both hate that he had to experience Morgan’s spiral and am grateful he was there for her when I couldn’t be.
“Do you…need anything?” he asks.
Anger flickers inside my chest. Leave it to Will to ask this. When I’m already so close to breaking. I shake my head.
“Okay,” he says, then pushes off from the doorframe.
I have a sudden urge to call out to him, but I bite my cheek. The time for William Hayes to comfort me ended long ago.
Chapter Three
WILLIAM (AGE 14)
I pour moreHoneycomb Crunch into my bowl just as Zach enters the kitchen, dressed in his dark green sheriff’s deputy uniform. It’s still weird, but I’ve had all summer to adjust. It suits him, but I never would have guessed he’d choose a career as a cop. Before our lives fell apart in Alaska, he wanted to be a veterinarian, like Dad.
“Sleep okay?” Zach asks while grabbing a mug from the cupboard above the coffeemaker.
My mouth is full of cereal, so I give him a nod.
Zach pours coffee from the carafe, then adds milk from the fridge. “Can I make you some eggs?” he asks, grabbing a spoon from the drawer and giving his coffee a stir.
My stomach flutters. On a normal morning, eggs would probably be a good idea. Protein and all that. But this will be my first day of high school after three years being homeschooled in the Alaska wilderness, so it’s about asnot normalas it can get.
“I’m good.” I tip the bowl to my lips, drinking down the last of the milk. Before my brother can say anything else, I carry my bowl and spoon to the dishwasher, then lift my backpack from the chair and sling it over one shoulder.
Zach opens one arm. I’m not feeling particularly warm and fuzzy right now, but Zach is all I have. We’ve been through a lot, and I owe him so much. Today probably feels like a victory for him as much as it does for me. Even though walking into a brand-new school as an outsider has me scared shitless.
“Have a good day,” Zach says, giving me a final squeeze.
“Yeah, you too.” I walk to the door and slip outside.
Squinting against the bright morning sunshine, I take the path through the dry grass to the road. Our rental is walking distance to the school, a choice Zach and his fiancée Sofie made for me so I could get to and from practice on my own when he’s at work. Which is all good but it means I’m taking the crosswalk to the high school way too soon.
Kids who drive are filling up the street parking and student lot and buses chug up the hill to the turnaround. Like bees to their hive, bodies move toward the big glass doors in the center of the main building. Though it’s the first day of school, everyone seems to know where they’re going, so I try to blend in, keeping my gaze focused on a spot just ahead of my feet. It doesn’t matter what people think of me. I’m going to make the most of this opportunity and fuck anyone who tries to hold me back or get in my way.You’ve earned it, Zach told me. I ball my fists.Fucking right, I have.
“Hayes!” a guy calls from the right as I weave past two stopped cars in the drop-off lane.
It’s Theo Hannah, my teammate and the closest thing I have to a friend in this town. “S’up, Hannah?” I say, keeping my grin in check.Don’t look so fucking eager to see a friendly face.
He trots over. “Where’s your first class?”
