Page 8 of Deluge

I know what I have to do, though I don’t know if it’s whathewould do.

So, I ask.

“How would he handle this?”

“How else do you think?” Luna replies with a chuckle.

I nod as I walk into the room and rush my brother, dropping him onto his back—

_____

“Dalton?”

I close my eyes tightly and shake my head as I dig the heels of my sneakers into the dirt, grinding the swing to an abrupt stop.Was the door open when I saw him with Hailey? I can’t remember.

“What?”

As much as I want to be alone right now, I’m actually kind of thankful that Jessa invited herself along to shake the memories away.

“Never mind,” she says softly, “it’s not important.”

Opening my eyes, I glance over at her and nod. “I think I’m going to head back home.”

“Mind if I come?”

My eyes turn sharp as the memory fades, and I remember that she’s nothing more than a stranger I met once in the wrong place.

But Jessa holds up her hands in surrender after she brings her swing to a stop.

“No funny business, I promise. You just look like you can use a friend for a little while, is all.”

A friend,I think as I turn my eyes up toward the sky again. Kalen was my best friend once upon a time, and so was Hailey.

I get to my feet and shove my hands into my pockets as a deep rush of breath escapes me.

“Sure, come on,” I say as I briskly walk by her and head out of the park.

Maybe having one that isn’t as fucked up as we are could help with a fresh start.

ChapterSeven

“This is it,”I say as I hold the door open for Jessa and let her walk by me. “It’s not much, but it’s home.”

I suddenly feel self-conscious about how empty this damn place feels, and I don’t know why.

I’ve usually just wallowed in my self-pity about being alone, but the house being actually empty is hitting me harder now that someone is in it.

“It’s nice!”

She’s being polite,I think with a chuckle. Not that her opinion matters to me, but I imagine it would to Hailey if she were still here and present.

“Thanks,” I mumble as I shrug off my jacket and place it on one of the hooks near the front door. “Want something? Thirsty or anything like that?”

She shakes her head, clasping her hands in front of her, as I breeze by her on the way to the kitchen. I reach up and open one of the cupboard doors above the sink, rummaging around until I find my favorite glass, then turn on the tap.

It's not the best-tasting water I’ve got, but I like to hold onto my gallon in the fridge for when I’m ready to sleep.

“Just you?” she asks, suddenly appearing in the kitchen doorway.