Maybe the accident was the universe’s way of giving me a second chance.

Chapter 18

A loud thwack zaps me out of my thoughts.

I glance down at the book I dropped. Awesome.

I try to bend and maneuver as much as I can to grab it, but I only end up kicking it across the hallway instead.

“Good job, klutz,” I mutter to myself.

I hate these stupid crutches.

I look around to see if someone can help me, but there’s not a friendly face in sight.

Turning back to my locker, I grab a textbook for a different class.

“I think this belongs to you.”

Stone’s voice melts over my skin like butter in the midday sun.

Refusing to make eye contact, I drop my gaze to the floor as I take my book from him. “Thanks.”

“So, it’s like that now, huh?”

It has to be.

Anger fills his voice. “You’re not even gonna look at me?”

“You know we can’t be friends.” Pressing my forehead against my locker, I close my eyes. “Don’t make it any harder than it already is.”

He leans in just close enough that I can smell his orange-scented soap and the cinnamon from his gum. “You’re a fucking coward.”

The insult sends my insides coiling.

“Tell me what Tommy did was wrong.” Anger flushes over my cheeks and I find myself glaring. “Look me in the eyes and tell me he’s a heartless piece of shit.”

That he’s responsible for what happened to Liam.

And if there were any justice in the world, it would be Tommy in that grave instead of my brother.

Stone stays silent.

I hobble past him. “Looks like I’m not the only coward.”

“Who does that car belong to?” I ask Jace as he pulls into the driveway.

The pink Mercedes convertible has been taking up space in our driveway since I’ve been here, and I’ve never seen anyone drive it.

His expression is inscrutable when he answers. “Yours.”

“Mine?” I question.

“Yup.”

That doesn’t make any sense. “I don’t drive.”

As far as I know, I’ve never driven.

Your mother dying in a car accident will do that to you.

Jace eyes the car in question. “Dad got it for your eighteenth birthday.”

I’m not really sure why he did that, but it’s a shame for such a nice, expensive car to sit there and rot.

“Well, if you ever want to take it for a spin, feel free.” Stepping out of his vehicle, I close his car door. “It’s not like I’ll be driving it anytime soon.”

Or ever, for that matter.

Past…

“J-j-just s-s-sit in the c-c-car for one m-m-minute,” Liam insists as he drags me to our father’s car.

Folding my arms across my chest, I stomp my foot. “No.”

I’ll never step foot inside a car again.

Cars kill people.

I narrow my eyes. “Why won’t you quit bugging me about this?”

He pouts. “Because I’m t-t-tired of w-w-walking to and from s-s-school every day. I’m t-t-tired of never g-g-going anywhere f-f-fun.” He kicks a rock across the driveway. “It’s been nine m-m-months.”

Nine months, eight days, and four hours.

“You can go places without me,” I remind him.

Heck, Jace and Cole do it all the time.

He looks at me like I’m insane. “That’s no f-f-fun.”

“Neither is being trapped inside something that will kill me.”

He grabs me by my shoulders. “I’m your b-b-big b-b-brother.”

I have no idea where he’s going with this. “Duh. What’s your point?”

“I’d never l-l-let anything b-b-bad happen t-t-to you.” I fight the urge to remind him that we were both in the crash that killed Mom as he spins me around. “C-c-close your eyes.”

Nope. He can’t fool me. “I’m not falling for that, Liam.”

He huffs. “J-j-just t-t-trust me.”

“I swear to God if you push me in that car, I’m punching you in the face.”

“I w-w-won’t.” He loops his pinky with mine. “Pinky s-s-swear.”

Dang. Nothing trumped a pinky swear. It was the holy grail of promises.

But still, I didn’t want any part of going in that car. “Liam—”

“C-c-close your eyes. P-p-please.”

“Fine,” I relent. “I’ll do it. But if you—”

My sentence falls by the wayside as he places something around my neck.

“What are you doing?”

“O-o-open your eyes.”

I finger the thin black lanyard, inspecting the silver pendant dangling from it.

Embedded in the metal is a man trudging through the ocean while holding a staff. Upon closer inspection, I notice he’s also carrying a baby on his back.

“What—”

“It’s S-s-saint C-C-Christopher,” Liam tells me. “He’s s-s-supposed to p-p-protect t-t-travelers.”

I want to protest and tell him a piece of metal won’t save anyone, but he looks so happy. Like he just discovered the cure to finally fix me.

I don’t have the heart to crush him.

“I can’t believe you got this for me.”

He shrugs like it was no big deal. “Of c-c-course I d-d-did. I love you.”

I blink, unsure how to respond.

Mom used to always tell us she loved us and that it was important to tell each other every day, but ever since she died…

We stopped saying it.

It’s as if our love died with her.

With a shaky breath, I reach for the door handle and climb into the back seat. “Fine, I’ll do it. But only for one minute.”

His smile is so bright it could rival the sun.

Chapter 19

“Let’s go,” Jace gripes from the doorway of my bedroom. “You’re gonna be late for school.”

School can wait.

I frantically continue searching through my jewelry box and every nook and cranny of my dresser but come up empty.

“What are you looking for?”

“Do you remember that St. Christopher pendant Liam got me when we were kids?”

Jace nods. “Yeah.”

I look at him. “It’s missing.”

Along with the silver feather charm I paired with it shortly after his death.

It was my way of acknowledging that he was my guardian angel.

Given I never would have taken it off, it has to be around here somewhere.

Unless…

My heart falls. “Do you think I lost it in the accident?”

I don’t have any recollection of it of course, but it’s not entirely out of the question to assume it might have fallen off when I went through the windshield.

Jace squeezes my shoulder. “Tell you what, after I drop you off at school, I’ll run down to the police station and the hospital and see if it’s there.”

I wrap my arms around him. “You’re the best, you know that?”