“Oh, for shit’s sake. Anything to make my life more difficult. Let’s go.” Grabbing his keys, he walked out the door. He didn’t look back to see if I needed help.

Jaden stood in the same place he had when the spectacle began. When my mother and I walked by, he twiddled his fingers at me and smiled. “See you at school, Willow.”

If I’d been able, I would’ve kicked him in the crotch so hard he’d have to pee through his nose for the rest of his life.

I jumped when the door opened and Dr. Sebastian, a tall, dark-skinned man wearing a white coat and looking at a computer tablet, walked in. “Ms. Rutherford?”

I looked up. “Hi.” I tried to smile. I didn’t think I managed it.

“I’ve reviewed your x-rays and the good news is nothing is broken. The bad news is your shoulder is dislocated.”

“Oh. What happens next?” My teeth chattered, and I wasn’t sure why. The exam room was warm, and the nurse had given me a heated blanket.

“Well, we need to set your shoulder, then we’ll take another x-ray to make sure everything looks okay, and then you can go home.”

Two nurses entered the room and the doctor took hold of my arm. I couldn’t really say what happened next. All I knew was it was the worst pain I’d ever felt in my life. I tried not to, but I screamed. A lot. And loudly. Then it was over.

“You did good, honey,” the pretty nurse told me. “Listen, Willow, is it okay if I call you Willow?” I nodded, and she smiled. “Are you sure there isn’t something you’d like to tell me about what happened?”

“No. I fell down the stairs.” I was getting good at lying. Once I decided what my story was, I almost believed it myself.

She patted my leg and smiled. “X-ray is here.” She left, and the same guy rolled the x-ray machine into the room.

He asked me how I’d hurt myself while he took the x-rays. I repeated my story to him.

A few minutes after X-ray left, an older woman who wore too much perfume and was wearing a blue suit that didn’t quite fit came into my room with my nurse.

“Hi, Willow. I’m Joyce. I’m a case manager for the hospital.”

“Okay,” I said slowly.

“I just want to make sure we understand exactly what happened to you today. Can you tell me in your own words what led up to your accident?”

No, but I can lie to you.

“I was rushing down the stairs to answer the door. My foot missed a step. I fell down them and hit my shoulder against the wall at the bottom of the stairs.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, ma’am.”

“Who’s with you today?”

“No one.”

“How are you getting home?”

“My stepdad said to call him when I was finished and he’d pick me up,” I whispered.

All through our conversation, Joyce wrote in her file. When she’d finished with her notes, she looked at me. “If something else happened, you can tell me. Anything you say in here is strictly confidential.”

I shook my head and bit a hangnail on my finger. “Nothing else happened,” I lied.

“Okay. The nurse will get your discharge papers ready.”

“Thank you,” I said, my gaze locked on the floor.

An hour later, I was in the car with my mom riding home. My arm was in a sling to allow the tendons and crap time to heal. I didn’t know. I didn’t really listen. They gave me something for pain, my discharge papers, and told me to see my regular doctor in a week. I wouldn’t.

My mom let me stay home from school Monday, partly because my shoulder still hurt and the pain pills made me sick, and partly because I think she felt guilty.

She should have stopped it. She should have done something, anything, except what she did. She just stood there and did nothing, because if she did something, he might expose her secret. Tell what she did. And then people would know she was something so much worse than white trash who snagged the most sought after bachelor in Middleton.

Tuesday was my first day back at school. The first day I’d see Brody since telling him I didn’t love him. I dreaded going into biology. I tried to rearrange my schedule so I could avoid him—seeing him every day was going to be torture—but there was only one AP biology class, so I was stuck.

Brody wasn’t there when I walked into class. Jenna carried my books for me. She laid my bag on the table in front of my chair and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek. “I’ll see you in history. If you need anything, text me. I don’t care what it is, Willow. Text me. I mean it.”

Nodding, I sat down. I didn’t look at anyone, and I didn’t speak. I just sat staring straight ahead at the whiteboard, waiting for the teacher to start his mind-numbing lecture. Steeling myself for Brody’s arrival.

Someone slipped into the chair next to me, and I stiffened. I let out the breath I was holding when he spoke. “Hey, chickie. How ya doin’?” Tim asked, giving me a kiss on the cheek.

I shrugged a shoulder—my good one. Tears pressed behind my eyes. I knew if I said anything, I’d start to cry. Again. So I didn’t say anything, and Tim was okay with that.

“Um, we switched seats. I thought it might be easier for you,” Tim murmured. I nodded again and looked away. “I’m only gonna say this once because I know you won’t want us to keep bringing it up, but I’m really sorry. You got a shit deal, Willow. I know you love Brody. I don’t know what happened with Jaden, but I know this isn’t what you want.” He looked at my arm. “It isn’t what any of us want.”

I didn’t say anything. The single tear that ran down my cheek said everything for me. I swiped it away before anyone other than Tim saw. He rubbed his hand up and down my back before he got my book out of my bag for me.

I couldn’t concentrate during class. All I did was wonder if Brody was sitting in Tim’s old seat—two rows behind me and the table to the right. I wanted to turn and look. I didn’t.

After class, Tim helped me gather my things and put them in my bag. He swung the strap over his shoulder. “I got a pass from the office excusing me for being late to my classes so I can carry your things to each of your classes until you get the sling off your arm next week.”

That’s something Jaden should be doing. But, no. It’s not about him. Thank God for Tim and Jenna.

“Thanks.” It was the first word I’d said since walking into the building with Jenna that morning.

Tim and I walked silently to my English class. I hesitated outside the door. Tim waited quietly beside me. The warning bell sounded, and I knew I had to go inside, but I couldn’t get my feet to move. I could feel the panic welling up inside me like a tumor growing. It was suffocating me. I couldn’t take a breath. Blood rushed behind my ears and I felt sweat slither down my spine, causing my shirt to stick to my skin. My whole body began to shake and my teeth chattered like I was standing outside in the middle of winter, but the school was warm.

I can’t do this.

Images of Brody played in front of my eyes. The night at his Aunt Bess’s bar when we played pool and I made him think I’d never played before. The night in the tent, laying under the twinkle lights. How he looked as he leaned down to kiss me for the first time. His crooked grin, sapphire eyes… the images ran like a slide show in front of my eyes, faster and faster until I was dizzy. I reached out and steadied myself against the wall.

“Hey, are you sure you’re up to this?” Tim put his arm around my waist, and I leaned into him.

Then the tears started. I couldn’t get them to stop. They just kept coming, one after another after another until I thought I’d drown in them. I buried my head in Tim’s shoulder and cried silently, trying not to draw attention to myself. I had enough attention without everyone seeing me have a mental break in front of my second-period English class.