Page 149 of See You Again

“I never meant for any of this to happen. It wasn’t my fault.”

She heard James’s voice in her ear almost as if he were in the room. “Stall.”

James.

He was on his way. She just needed to buy time.

“I’m sure you didn’t. It’s awful how one moment in your life completely changes your trajectory.”

Trey nodded vigorously, his wet hair flopping on his forehead. “Exactly!”

“Do you want to tell me what happened?” Trey shot her a skeptical look, and Cami gentled her voice. “I think it’s been weighing on you. You said it was an accident. That means no one can hold you responsible.”

Trey’s hands came out of his pockets to thrust back in his hair, and Cami flinched back at the glint of steel. He had a knife.

She licked her dry lips. “You picked her up that night?”

“You don’t care.” His voice was bitter.

“I do, Trey.”

Keep using his name. Establish rapport.

Lessons from her social work training on domestic violence popped into her head. “I’ve been trying to solve this puzzle for so long…”

He sighed, but his posture relaxed slightly.

“Everyone thought it was Matt because he’d taken her out on a date. Did he know you liked her?”

Trey’s eyes flashed. “Of course, he knew. That’s why he did it. Anything to make me feel like a loser. He bragged about it after.”

“That’s terrible. I’m sorry.”

“He told me all about how he’d touched her. She let him touch her. How could she do that and then say no to me?”

“Amy said no to you?” A picture formed in Cami’s mind, making her sick.

“I thought she’d be grateful that I was picking her up after Matt said no. He didn’t care about her, but I did!”

“I know you did.”

How much time has passed? Will James be here soon?

“She turned on me. I even offered her a vape to calm her down. She took a couple of hits but she was so mad about her loser ex-boyfriend she wouldn’t relax. I’d hoped she’d forget about him and maybe we could have a good time. Then when I came back the next semester, it would be different.” His face twisted.

“I just wanted to kiss her, but she slapped me. Said horrible things. Called me names.” He looked to Cami as if she should agree with him, and she forced herself to nod sympathetically.

“What happened after that?” Her voice was barely more than a whisper.

“I didn’t mean to hurt her, I swear!”

“I know you didn’t.”

“She jumped out of the car, and I chased after her. I couldn’t leave her alone out there in the dark. We were in the middle of nowhere.”

“You were trying to help her.” Cami almost choked on the words, but Trey smiled.

“Yes. Then she was screaming, and I just wanted her to stop. Needed her to listen.” His face fell. “I guess I held on too long.”