“It’s early, man.” I don’t know what time it is, but I must’ve only passed out a few hours ago. I sit up and comb my fingers through my hair. Someone poured a bucket of sand in my mouth. I need a drink. I open the door and climb out of the truck, stretching my aching back.

“You look like shit.” Devin hands me a cup of coffee.

“Thanks,” I growl. We walk around to the back of the truck, I drop the tailgate and we both take a seat. I take a sip of coffee, happy for the warmth in my empty stomach. “How’d you find me?” I’ve been ignoring his calls.

“Only a handful of places in this town you can park overnight without getting hassled. Wasn’t hard.”

He hands me a takeout container and I nod in thanks. The scrambled eggs make me think of Elizabeth for the millionth time in half as many minutes. I remember my lips on her neck as I tried to teach her how to make eggs. Domestic as fuck. The last time I was happy before it all went to shit. That memory can go fuck itself. All of them can.

“You about done with this shit?” Devin asks.

I lift my hand and flex my fingers. Nothing is broken. My knuckles are swollen and bruised but healing. I miss the pain. I deserve it. “Not yet.”

“Have you talked to her?”

I glare at him. My stomach twists.

“No.”

I haven’t talked to Elizabeth since she ran out of the library. It’s been two weeks. I thought it would get easier, that I’d forget about her, but I haven’t. I’ve never let myself want anyone before. Now I need her. I never knew I was lonely until she walked out of my life. I’ve lost everything, yet nothing seems to matter more than her.

Devin nods and asks, “Going to finish school?”

I shake my head. “What’s the point? I was born a white trash piece of shit. I’ll die a white trash piece of shit. Everything in between is just a delusion.”

“Whatever you say, man,” he grumbles. “This piece of shit is going to work.”

I hold up the food. “Thanks.”

He nods and walks off.

Fuck, I want a drink.

Chapter Eighteen

Chapter Eighteen

Elizabeth

I walk out of my biochem final in a haze. I’m mentally, physically and emotionally drained. I’ve been functioning on autopilot since I left my heart and my dignity back in that library with Austin. I barely managed to drag myself out of the apartment for finals. I can’t quite bring myself to care about anything.

I miss him.