Page 5 of Tell Me When It's Over

They both share a look before nodding at me, scraping their chairs back. My sister says they’ll be out on the back deck when we’re ready, though I can see the wheels turning in Leighton’s head like she’s planning her escape. Serious talks have never been her thing, but too damn bad.

“Talk to me,” I say softly once we’re alone, tapping her arm until she peeks at me through her thick lashes. “Mia is right, you were set on going to Stanford. What happened?”

“Kyler, it’s—”

“And no excuses,” I cut her off knowingly.

Her cheeks turn red. Sucking in a long breath, she closes her eyes and admits, “My grades dropped. I missed too much school and had two options. Retake my junior year and get setback a year or drop out and take my GED to stay on track.” When she opens her eyes, I

see sadness willowing in the dark depths staring back at me, the blue-rimmed orbs glassy from an onslaught of embarrassed tears. “The grade point average when I chose to drop out was under a three, and then every time I tried studying for the GED exam, something was going on with Mom that I had to fix. I barely passed it.”

The heavy exhale that escapes my lips is accompanied by a “Fucking Katherine” that, thankfully, doesn’t seem to offend Leighton. She loved her mother unconditionally because that’s just who she is, but I know she’s probably screaming inside.

“You shouldn’t have to give up your dreams because of her,” I tell her.

“Sure, but it doesn’t work that way. Stanford is picky about who they admit.” She leans forward and shakes her head. “Maybe I should take a year off. I’ll work and—”

“Absolutely not,” I cut her off, standing.

“Ky—”

“Leighton, you’ve worked your fucking ass off for this opportunity. What if you take time off and decide not to go at all? Then what will you do with yourself?”

“I’ll figure it out.”

“You don’t have to do that alone.”

She doesn’t answer right away. “I know I don’t, but I’m used to it.” Her words are muffled under context we both understand.

I kneel beside her chair and pry her small hands apart to squeeze one. I’ve done it before, forced my way into the fort she built around herself. “We’re going to fix that, okay? You shouldn’t have to do it on your own when there are people to help you. It’s going to be different.”

She tries pulling her hand away, but I latch onto it. “You’re only saying that because you feel sorry for me, Kyler. You don’t have to.”

Owning up to it, I shrug. “I do feel bad, but that doesn’t mean it’s the only reason I’m going to make sure you get the education you want and deserve.”

Slowly, she blinks at me. “What other reason could there be?”

Oh, Lele. Sighing, I say, “Just because we aren’t blood like we thought doesn’t mean I don’t care. You’re my friend, one of my best friends, and I failed you once. I’m not going to do that again.”

Her throat bobs again.

Then her head.

“Good.” I stand and peck her cheek, tugging her up from the chair until she’s standing directly beside me. I drape an arm around her shoulder. “Guess we should do some house hunting then, huh?”

She chokes out a, “What?”

“If we’re going to be roomies,” I say with arched brows, “then we’ll need to find a place that works for the both of us.”

The look she gives me is humorous, but I hold back from laughing. Ignoring her gaping lips, I pull her toward the sliding doors where everyone is waiting.

Neither of us says another word.

Chapter Two

Leighton / Age 12

The wrought iron gate surrounding the property tells me we shouldn’t be here. I’ve never seen a house so big in my life, not even the others we’ve passed in our old jalopy of a car that sticks out like a sore thumb compared to the expensive, polished looking ones driving by us on the way here.

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