End Note

by Sonya Loveday

  The guys didn’t care one way or the other. A house was a house to them. And damned if the house we rolled up to wasn’t huge. Three stories, balconies front and back, and a million-dollar view of the mountains. Oliver explained, as we gaped at it, that we had run of the house for as long as we needed it. Lars’ face broke into a grin that threatened to swallow his face.

  “Do you know what that means?” Lars asked as we walked up the brick-paved driveway to the double-frosted glass doors.

  “We’re ballin’, bro!” Licks hooted, slinging his arm over Retro’s shoulder.

  Lars cuffed him on the back of the head with a chuckle. “No dumbass. What that means is, we’ll have enough money to buy our own recording equipment. We can do it ourselves since we don’t have to pay for a place to stay.”

  I shoved my hands in my back pockets, biting my lip hard enough to taste blood. We’d have been able to do the same thing in Opp, and I would have been home.

  Murphy linked her arm through mine. When I looked down at her, she gave me an odd look, as if pleading with me to let my anger go.

  My phone vibrated in my back pocket, and I fished it out with a sigh. Paige’s name flashed across the screen. Worry rolled through me. Paige never called me.

  “Are you going to answer that?” Murphy said, looking down at the phone in my hand.

  I wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone, but Paige wouldn’t just call to chitchat with me. Something had to be wrong. Before I could answer it, it kicked over to voice mail.

  “Who is Paige?” Murphy asked me as I scrolled through my contacts to call her back.

  “She’s Riley’s best friend, and Marks sort-of girl friend. Well, he says she is, but I have no idea why he thinks that. She brushes him off at every turn.”

  My phone rang again before I could bring up her name, and I answered it immediately. “Paige, what’s wrong?”

  “Jared! Oh thank God, I’ve been trying to get a hold of you for the last two days.”

  “Can you yell at me about that after you tell me what’s wrong?”

  She sighed. Deeply. “Riley’s dad passed away.”

  I stumbled back a step as if her words had struck me. “What? No, that’s not… Are you serious?”

  “Yes, I’m fucking serious! Why the hell else would I call you? It damn sure isn’t to yak it up. Oh, and by the way… I lost my job because you’re an idiot.” Paige went for the jugular when she was upset.

  “Whoa… hold on, first explain what happened to Riley’s dad, and then you can chew my ass out about the blue-hair brigade.”

  “Jesus, you must be homesick to not have some kind of stupid comeback.”

  “Riley’s dad, Paige. What happened?”

  Paige broke my heart all in a matter of five minutes as she told me about Riley finding out her dad had passed away, and that she’d been somewhat unresponsive, lying on the couch.

  “Take her to the hospital!”

  “It’s not that simple, Jared. She’s grieving. I need to give her that time. If she doesn’t come out of it by tomorrow, I’ll take her to the hospital. Just trust me; I know what I’m doing. Okay?”

  “Fine. Listen, I can be there in just a few hours. Can you pick me up?”

  “Jared, I know Riley would appreciate you being here, but why don’t you wait until the arrangements are made? She’ll need you more then.”

  “I don’t like it. I’d rather be there for her now. She’d do it for me.”

  “I know she would, but you have the band to think about. You can’t just run off, especially not knowing when you’d be back. I promise that I’ll take care of her. I’ll keep you updated, and I’ll let you know when arrangements have been made.”

  My mind immediately jumped to Ace. “Have you gotten a message to Ace?”

  “His mom got in touch with him. He’s freaking out, but he can’t leave boot camp. He made her promise him that she’d stay with Riley until he could get here on leave.”

  “So he’s for sure coming?” Rubbing a hand against the back of my neck did little to ease the tension strung out along my shoulders as I thought about Riley coping with everything without all of us.

  “That’s what he said.”

  “What about the others?”

  “I got a hold of Mark earlier today, and I told him the same thing I told you. He’s waiting for me to let him know so he can make his arrangements. I texted Eli, but I have no idea when I’ll hear back from him. I don’t even know if he has signal on his SAT phone. Josh is having a tough time; I think schools kicking his ass. He won’t admit it, but I think he’s working multiple jobs just to afford rent and food. He sounded pretty upset when I talked to him. I know there’s no way he could afford to come home right now.”

  “If she doesn’t come out of it by tomorrow, I’m coming home. I’ll get in touch with Josh. If he wants to come home, I’ll get him a plane ticket. Just do me a favor, Paige, and please let me know how she’s doing tomorrow.”

  “I will. Thanks, Jared.”

  Realizing the tension in my neck wouldn’t go away anytime soon, I let my hand fall against my side. “Even if you’re a major pain in my ass, Paige, you’re still family.”

  She snorted, and I could visualize her scowling at me. “Yeah, well, family or not, your interfering bullshit got me blacklisted from the job I was gunning for, so thanks for that.”

  I winced, shoving a hand in my pocket, and kicked the toe of my shoe at the ground. “They fired you?”

  “Something like that.”

  I felt like the biggest jerk. “So what now?”

  The sound of her groan vibrated the speaker. “You sound just like Mark.”

  My mouth kicked up on one side. Mark, no matter the miles between them, wasn’t going to give up on Paige for anything. “Been talking to him a lot?”

  “Every day.” She sounded aggravated. “But anyway, enough about me… how’s everything going for you?”

  I snorted. “It’s complicated, but we’re working it out.”

  “Oh, so they figured out you’re an asshole, and now they don’t want you anymore?”

  I couldn’t help but banter back at her. “I’m not an asshole. I’m perfect. Ya savvy?”

  I heard her sigh. “All right, Captain Jared, I’m gonna go check on Riley now. I’ll text you tomorrow.”

  “Thanks for getting in touch with me. I’ll keep my phone close. If you need anything at all, call me.”

  “Will do. Bye.”

  When Paige hung up, I clutched the phone to my chest. If my mother hadn’t changed my plans, I would have been in Alabama only minutes from Riley. Minutes. The sorrow I’d felt was swept aside on a tidal wave of anger. Pulling up my contacts, I scrolled down to my Mom’s cell number and called her. She answered on the second ring.

  “Hello, Jared.”

  I closed my eyes and forced myself to speak. “Riley’s dad passed away.”

  “I know. I’m sorry, son. Is there anything we can do for Riley?”

  My eyes flew open, surprised by her reply. “How did you know?”

  “Ace called your dad yesterday. I just found out a little bit ago.”

  Would the hits stop coming? “Ace called Dad?”

  “Yes, he said he’d tried to call you, but your phone went right to voice mail.”

  I was the worst fucking friend. Ever.

  “We’re sending Riley some flowers…”

  The idea of it pissed me off. “Don’t send flowers. Flowers die. If you’re gonna send her something, make it something that will live.”

  “You’re right… I’ll send her a nice Hydrangea or something tomorrow. Will you be heading to Alabama?”

  My hand fisted at my side, and I fought to keep from shouting. “I would have been there already had you not changed my plans.”

  “Jared…”

  “I’m gonna go now, Mom. I just wanted you to know about Riley’s dad. I’ll talk to you later. Love you.”

  I hung up the phone and opened m
y messages. Sure enough, there was one there from Ace in all caps that said CALL ME!

  Josh and Mark had texted me as well. I fired off texts to each of them and put my phone back in my pocket.

  Murphy, who’d stayed silent beside me the entire time, finally spoke up. “Is everything okay? Do we need to look up flights for you?”

  I dragged my hands down my face. Tired. I was so damn tired. “No, but I might need to in a couple of days.”

  MURPHY GASPED WHEN WE STEPPED inside the house. “There are two staircases.” Her hand covered her mouth as she looked up. I tilted my head back to see a large chandelier with teardrop-shaped pieces of glass shimmering above us like wet pieces of ice.

  Both staircase railings were made of large pieces of twisted wood that stretched all the way up to a balcony railing made of tree limbs, ensconced between roughly polished logs.

  I whistled between my teeth. Murphy spun around and grabbed my hands, tugging on them as she pulled me forward through the archway.

  The view was the first thing I noticed.

  In front of me was a solid floor-to-ceiling window that stretched at least ten feet across, allowing natural sunlight to illuminate the room. The view, past the outside balcony, was peaceful… calming. A door was to the left of the window, which led to an outside deck.

  The house seemed to be set back in a copse of trees directly in front of what I assumed was a lake. Its horseshoe shape butted up to a small beach below, settling in between the trees that stretched up the mountains on both sides.

  “Can you believe this place? I feel like we’re staying in a ski resort. Look at the fireplace, Jared!”

  Murphy’s excitement pulled me from staring out of the window. Her hands were clasped in front of her upturned lips with a smile that lit up her face.

  Licks bound down the stairs, hollering, “You guys are not gonna believe the rooms! They all have these massive tubs big enough for like five people, and the damn showers have real rocks and shit in ’em.”

  Lars, Retro, and Oliver came down the stairs behind him at a slower clip. Oliver passed by Licks, putting him in a headlock. “Luggage. Then you can go on and on about the shower and how the bed feels like marshmallows.”

  Lars shook his head and shrugged. “At least he hasn’t come up with a way to slide down the stairs yet.”

  Oliver groaned when Licks broke free of his hold and shouted, “Couch cushions!”

  “Luggage!” Retro, Oliver, and Lars shouted at him.

  He put his hands up in surrender. “Okay… okay, you don’t have to get all loud and stuff.”

  LICKS WAS A MAN ON a mission. He grabbed his bags and tossed mine at me. The weight staggered me, but I didn’t drop it.

  “Hurry up, Jared! You’ll get the left side, and I’ll take the right. We’ll race to see who’s fastest!” he said, bolting for the front door.

  “A hundred bucks says he loses,” Retro called out.

  Lars pulled his suitcase out and set it against the side of the van. “Loses? I’m thinking he’ll either break his arm or face-plant into the wall.”

  Retro stuck his hand out. “I’ll take that bet.”

  They looked over at me. “What?”

  “What’s your bet?” Lars asked.

  “I bet he can’t get the cushions off the couch.”

  Retro settled his duffel bag over his shoulder. “You obviously don’t know Licks that well.”

  I just smiled, knowing for a fact that Licks wouldn’t be able to pull the couch cushions off. I’d seen the couch. Unless he planned to carry the entire thing up and ride it down, Licks would have to find something else to race down the stairs on.

  Oliver handed me my book bag, pulled Murphy’s bags from the back, handed her two, and then carried the rest along with his stuff.

  MY PHONE RANG AS SOON as we walked back inside. I pulled it out of my pocket and dropped my bag by the bottom of the stairs. Murphy stopped, leaning on the banister and looking down at me in question.

  “I’ll take my bags up in a few minutes.”

  She nodded and continued up the steps as I answered the phone.

  “Ace!”

  “You didn’t call me back.”

  “I just got in, sorry.”

  “Have you talked to Paige?”

  I wandered through the living room and stood in front of the window. “Yeah, I talked to her a little while ago. When are you scheduled for leave?”

  Ace blew out a long breath and cussed. “I was denied leave.”

  “What? Why?”

  “I can’t really explain it, Jared, but I’m headed out in two days, and I have no idea when I’ll get back.”

  “Where the hell are you going?”

  “I won’t know until I’m briefed, and that won’t be until my unit leaves. I won’t be able to go home when she needs me the most, Jar. What the hell did I sign myself up for, huh? She needs me, and I can’t be there.”

  He sounded haunted, like a man desperate to be free of the chains he’d placed on himself.

  “What do you want me to do, Ace? ’Cause I’ll do it… all you have to do is say the word.”

  “Just stay in touch with Paige until Riley gets a new phone.”

  “Until Riley gets a new phone…? What happened to her phone?”

  “She busted it. Paige said she’d be running out to get a new one for her as soon as Riley… as soon as she… Fuck!”

  Something crashed on the other end of the phone. Ace spewed a long, steady stream of cuss words. I waited him out. He needed to know I was there for him, even if it was over the phone.

  When his rampage ended, I spoke up. “We’ll be there for her, Ace. And when you get back, you can be there for her too.”

  “My mom’s there with her. I’ve talked to her a couple of times now. At least my mom and Paige are with Riley. When will you head to Alabama?”

  “Paige asked me to wait until the arrangements were made.”

  “So you’re waiting?”

  I couldn’t tell if it was just a question or disbelief that I wasn’t already on an airplane.

  “I don’t want to, but I told Paige I’d come as soon as she called to let me know.”

  “What if Paige is wrong? What if Riley’s stuck inside her own head because we’re not there to pull her out?” Ace asked.

  “When has Paige ever been wrong?”

  Ace snorted.

  “No, seriously… She’s been there with Riley through it all. We can count on her to keep in touch with us. Riley’s been like a sister to her too.”

  “Yeah, but she’s not the six of us. How did things go so wrong? How did we end up like this, Jared? ’Cause believe me when I tell you, if I had a way to turn back time…”

  “I know, bro. But that’s the thing about life… We don’t know what will happen; we’re just along for the ride.”

  “Yeah, well, life sucks.”

  “I know you’re worried, but you have to focus on what’s coming up for you too. Riley needs you to do whatever it is you gotta do, and then get home to her. She’s waited a long time for you, Ace. She’ll still be there, waiting for you, like she always has.”

  “I don’t want her to hate me for this, Jared. It’s killing me not to be able to go home.”

  I knew the feeling. The only difference was that I could leave and get on a plane. I could be there in just a few hours. If Paige called me with the same sort of update she’d given me before on Riley, that was exactly what I’d do.

  “She loves you, dumbass. Nothing could ever change that. Nothing will ever change that.”

  He sighed heavily. “I gotta go, Jared. I’m being called to a meeting.”

  “Ace?”

  “Yeah?”

  “We got this, okay?”

  “Do me a favor, Jared?”

  “Anything, bro.”

  “Take care of her for me… until I get back.”

  “You know I will.”

  I hung up the phone and pinched my eyes shut.
When had we gone from carefree, hell-raising kids to adults with issues?

  My phone beeped, alerting me I had a new message from Mark.

  Can’t talk right now. Headed to class. Call ya later.

  MURPHY FOUND ME STANDING AT the window. She wrapped her arm around me, resting her head on my chest. “I took your bags upstairs.”

  I wrapped my arms around her. Holding her close chased off the feeling of spinning out of control, if only for the moment.

  My phone rang and when I flipped it over in my hand, I saw a picture of Josh. When I pushed the button to accept the call, his face popped up on my screen.

  “Hey bro!”

  “Josh! Dude, you look like shit,” I said, noticing the dark circles under his eyes and the pasty look of his skin.

  “Yeah, well, you’re no picnic either. Who’s the chick?”

  I held my middle finger up at the phone, and he laughed.

  “Whatever. So who is she?”

  Murphy tried to take a step away from me, but I tightened my arm around her, and pulled the phone further away from me so that Josh could see both of us. “Josh, this is Murphy. Murphy, that asshole behind the glass is Josh.”

  He rolled his eyes. “Nice to meet you, Murphy.”

  She wriggled her fingers in a timid hello. “Nice to meet you too, Josh. I’m gonna let you two talk while I go unpack.”

  It was clear she was uncomfortable, so I released her. She pointed at the ceiling and mouthed, ‘I’ll be up there.’

  “I’ll come up in a few,” I said, and then turned my attention back to my phone. Josh had a smirk on his face that went from ear to ear.

  “So you leave home and find a hot girl… nice, Jared.”

  “Shut up.”

  “You know I’m kidding. Anyway, I didn’t call you to give you a hard time. I called about Riley…”

  When I wrapped up the video chat with Josh, we’d decided that when Paige called us with the funeral details, I’d cover Josh’s airfare, and he’d pay me back when he could. He’d fought me on it, but I wasn’t letting his stupid pride get in the way. Besides, if you couldn’t look out for your friends when they needed you the most, what the hell good were you anyway?