Page 107 of This I Know
“I love you, too, Mom. I’ll see you soon.” I disconnect our call and touch my forehead to the phone. That was hard.
Ethan approaches me from behind and gently touches my shoulder. I wipe a tear from the corner of my eye before turning to him. I place the phone back into his hand. Our fingers brush and we exchange shy smiles.
“How did that go?” he asks.
“It went. Actually, I didn’t tell her the whole story yet. I couldn’t do it over the phone so she’s on her way here.”
He scratches his head. “This should be interesting.”
“I know. It’s a good thing Cole’s not still here, or we might have to keep her from killing him.”
Ethan looks offended. “Might have to keepherfrom killing him? Avery, she’d have to get to him after I do. Do you have any idea how hard it was for me to resist killing that guy when I found you two? If he was still here, I wouldn’t be able to stop myself again. I’d end up in a prison cell right next to my dad.”
I hug him. “I believe y–”
The front door pops open. We both hear someone taking off their coat and stomping into the house.
It must be my mom. That was fast.
I rush toward the sound with Ethan trailing me. When I turn the corner into the hallway, Mara and I collide. She’s dressed in sweats and carrying a duffle bag in the crook of one arm, which she quickly drops on the floor. Her face is white.
“Oh myGod, Avery! What happened?” She rushes into my arms.
A sigh of relief escapes me.
She pulls away and looks around. “I don’t talk to you for twenty minutes and something like this happens?Again?Please tell me you’re okay.”
I nod. “I’m okay.”
“Then what the hell happened?”
I knew she’d force me to explain every single thing, but it’s going to hurt to say these words. I fiddle with my wrist, rubbing the areas that are still sore from being pinned down. I briefly look down; I can see faded marks already forming. They’re the beginnings of circular bruises running around the entirety of my wrist bones like sick bracelets. They’re almost in the shape of his fingerprints. God, they better go away.
I lower my voice so those around us can’t hear. This isn’t something I want to share. “He came here,” I say.He came here.That barely even makes sense. Get it together, Avery.
“Hecame here?” She racks her brain. “He as in … Cole?”
I nod, and she tries to hide her gasp.
“What for?” she says. “Did he do something to you?”
I look down. “Yes. I’m okay, though.”
“Oh.” Her hand is against her mouth. “Oh, Avery. I wish I’d gotten here sooner.”
“I don’t,” I say. “Don’t say that. You could have been hurt.”
“But if I was here…”
“Mara, stop it. I’m fine. Besides, Ethan got here just in time.” I take Ethan’s hand.
Mara looks back and forth between us, obviously confused. Ethan looks right back at her.
Finally, Mara speaks, “I’m so confused right now.” She holds up her phone. “One of the last things you said to me was that you and Ethan were through. And now he’s here? What’s going on, Avery?”
I laugh, because it’s the only logical thing. Really. I don’t have a good answer for her.
“Avery!”
