The anger lingered at home. I trudged through the kitchen, past Dad’s office. On my way up the stairs he popped his head out and said, “What up, son. Good school day?”

I only grunted, barricading myself in my room. At dinnertime, I ate fast, aware of my parents watching warily, then communicating their concern in that silent way they’d mastered. They didn’t ask, I didn’t tell. I went to my room still chewing.

In bed, my thumbs hovered over my phone screen. I hesitated over the message. What good would it do?

Me: I haven’t been acting like myself lately, and I want to see you. Can I come over tomorrow? Please?

Screw it. I hit Send.

The response was immediate.

Shianne: Cool. See you tomorrow.

Chapter 25

SCHOOL WAS HELL THE NEXT day.

Word of the locker room incident spread. Not so much to get me and Mason dragged into Terrier’s office, but enough to get me joked on all damn day, dudes squaring up in the hall and shadowboxing close enough to my face that I felt the breeze off their knuckles. My newly swollen eye didn’t help my cause. Too bad it wasn’t swollen enough to hide the smug victorious looks Mason flicked my way as we crossed paths.

If the day was hell for me, Kiera’s torment wasn’t far behind. Mason’s conquest tale made the rounds, too. I saw her once before our shared gym class, books held tight to her chest, head low, guys leering, inquiring loudly about how “gooood” she was.

Midday, while swapping books at my locker, I emerged and found an anxious, sad-faced Mya leaning on the locker next to mine. “What’s going on with you and Kiera? I’m hearing all kinds of things.”

“Maybe you shouldn’t listen.” I slammed my locker and kept it moving.

After school, I headed home for a quick shower, a few spritzes of Dad’s best cologne, then straight to Shianne’s, where she greeted me at the door with a screaming Zoey on her hip.

“What’s wrong with her?” I scooted by, gave shrieking Zoey a wide berth. I sensed the emptiness of the house.

“Does it look like I know, Del? Mom passed her to me the minute I came in, warned me she’s been cranky all day, then escaped. She’s fed. Her diaper’s fresh. I tried to put her down for a nap but she cried more. At this point, I’m leaning toward demonic possession. Do you have any holy water?”

“I do not.”

Shianne groaned. Then sniffed deeply. “Are you wearing cologne?”

Proud, hopeful, I said, “You like?”

“It makes me want to sneeze. Come on.”

She led me to the TV room. Zoey calmed slightly when Shianne laid her on the couch cushions. By calm, I meant her screaming became more of a persistent growl. Babies did that? “She sounds like a wolf cub.”

Shianne scowled. “You’ve had a day, I hear.”

“Everybody’s heard. Something. Probably ain’t the truth.”

“You’re alive, and Mason’s not in jail. That disproves one of the stories. You two fighting over Kiera, though?”