involved, just not in the way I thought. Maybe Lawrence is
destined to die, and the more I’m in the picture, the more certain that becomes. Everything I do to help him only seems to get us both deeper into trouble.
Mom folds her arms across her chest, letting her glare sink in.
At this point, though, I’m done. I throw out my arms.
“I don’t know what to say, Mom.”
She looks more disappointed than mad. I’ve never been the
sneaking out type or one to lie to her. “I think your friend
needs to leave.”
Lawrence and I exchange a tense glance.
“He lives on the other side of the point,” I say quickly.
Lawrence gives an imperceptible nod, then bows his head to
my mom.
“Again, I apologize, ma’am. I never intended any disrespect.”
Mom visibly softens at his politeness, though she still tries
to maintain her look of stern disapproval. “I hope to meet you
again under better circumstances.”
“Indeed.”
Lawrence starts down the beach, casting a glance at me
over his shoulder. We’ll see each other later, but even so,
I don’t like seeing him leave. There’s so much we need to
plan for tomorrow. These interruptions are giving me a
serious headache.
When he’s far enough away, Mom turns to me, and her
expression hardens.
“How long?” she asks.
I feel sick to my stomach. “It’s a really complicated situation, Mom.”
“This explains your behavior lately,” she says with a sigh.
“You know my rules about lying.”
“I’ve never really lied.”
“All that time you spent ‘on the beach’? All those ‘trips to
the library’?”
“I really was at the library! You saw me!”
She shakes her head. “Don’t make this worse.”
“Mom,
listen—”
She holds a silencing hand in the air. “We’ll discuss this later,
when I’m in a better mood. For now, you are grounded. And I
mean at the house. No beach.”
My whole body tenses. “No.”
“In your room for the rest of the night. I will be watching the
stairs,” she adds. “I know you snuck out the other night.”
I grab her arm with desperation. “Mom, please. I can’t—”
“Enough,” she says firmly. “I need some time to think about
what I’m going to do with you.”
“Mom!”
She points to the house, a clear command. She can’t do this
to me. Not today, of all days. Lawrence and I need to spend
every minute crafting a plan for tomorrow. I won’t abandon
him. I can’t.
“Move it, Cass,” Mom says. “You’re just making things worse
for yourself.”
A wild, fierce energy wells up in my chest, and I want to
scream, “You can’t make me!” Eddie does that all the time.
Maybe I should give it a try. Or maybe I just make a break for
it. Hide out until she gives up looking for me.
I think of Lawrence, of how much he needs me, and take
a slow breath to calm myself. For him, I will show control. If
I play my cards right with Mom, we can work this out. And
then I can get back to the beach. Lowering my gaze penitently,
I head into the house.
Mom follows me all the way up into my room. I sit on my
bed, trying to think of the perfect, humble thing to say.
“I expected so much more from you, Cass.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Sorry isn’t good enough. It’s going to take time to earn back
my trust.”
She starts to close the door but pauses. “Oh, and while we’re
on the subject, there’s no way you’re staying home tomorrow.”
“What?”
“You’re coming on the sailing trip. I’m going to keep a close
watch on you. Whoever this boy is, he can fend for himself
tomorrow.”
No. No. This isn’t happening. I jump to my feet, staring at Mom
in complete horror. But she’s unmoved. Without flinching, she
pulls the door shut. With a harsh bang, I’m sealed in my room.
And Lawrence is on his own.
Chapter 29
Lawrence
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