Letting You Go (Stone Lake 1)

“Shut up,” I growl, wondering how he could have made up these stories in his head and believe them.

“He wasn’t good enough for her, until some drifter left her knocked up and she needed him to step in and keep her respectable. So, you see, Gavin? You’re the reason Dad drinks himself into a stupor. You’re a constant reminder that our father married a whore,” Atticus sneers before he stomps off.

I’m left standing there, not sure what I’m feeling. I thought nothing could surprise me anymore, I was wrong.

I’m definitely surprised…. I just don’t know how I really feel about Atticus’s revelation.

“Gavin? Are you okay?” Luna asks softly.

“I don’t know,” I tell her honestly, rubbing the back of my neck.

“I’m going to sign myself out and go hunt down my father, Luna.”

“Gavin, maybe you should—”

“I’ll be fine,” I tell her kissing her quickly. “I’ll call you tonight.”

“Okay…” she says. I can hear the worry in her voice, and I don’t want to concern her, but I’m not sure what I’m experiencing right now. I don’t know how to explain that to her and I don’t know what to do. The thought of Atticus not being my brother doesn’t bother me. I think it’s pretty clear that there’s no love lost between us. Still, the revelation has sent me for a loop. There’s a part deep inside of me praying it’s true. Either way I have to know.

I have to.

Chapter Fifty Seven

Luna

“Gavin, something is wrong, I know it.”

“Babe—”

“She won’t answer her phone. It’s been three days and she’s texted me twice to tell me that she’s okay but checking out for a bit. What does that even mean?”

“Babe, maybe it means just what she said. You know yourself that she hasn’t been happy for a while. Maybe she went out of town with her parents.”

“She hates her parents and they go out of town for swinger parties. Jules would die before going anywhere with them.”

“Swinger parties?”

“Exactly.”

“There’s a mental image I didn’t need,” he says, wincing. I don’t blame him, I don’t like to think about it either.

“I’m really worried about her, Gavin.”

“Did you call her parents? You have their number, right?”

“Yeah, they said they’ve been in touch with Jules and she’s fine.”

“There, if she’s talking to her parents—”

“She’s texted them, like she has with me. That’s it. Don’t you think that’s strange? As much as Jules loves to talk that she’s cut herself off from everyone?”

“Okay, so what do we do?” Gavin asks, frowning down at me. I look around the hallway, desperate. I keep praying that Jules will walk through the doors and come in yelling and laughing at me for being so scared. I’ve been wanting that for three days. It hasn’t happened and she doesn’t magically appear now either. Out of the corner of my eye I see Darren. I start walking toward him.

“Luna—”

I hear Gavin call my name, but I keep walking. Darren jerks his head up to look at me as I reach him. He looks guilty and he should. Meghan Flint is pressed up against him tightly.

“Have you heard from Jules?”

“No, why should I?”

“Because the two of you are dating?” I question, my voice full of sarcasm as I give Meghan a dirty look.

“We’re not. We broke up at prom. I haven’t talked to her since.”

“You broke up with her?”

“She was drunk off her ass and accusing me of cheating on her. I don’t need that kind of drama.”

“Drama. Right. I guess she was imagining the way you were hanging all over Meghan then. Oh wait, but here Meghan is, right?”

“So? It’s not like her and Darren were married,” Meghan whines. “Not that it’s any business of yours Marshall, why don’t you step back?”

“You haven’t heard anything from her since prom?” I ask, ignoring Meghan, even though I’d like to take my frustration out on her.

“Why would I?”

“Shit,” I mumble turning back around to look at Gavin. “I’m telling you something is wrong, Gavin,” I tell him, my voice trembling. He takes me in his arms, his hands combing through my hair reassuringly.

“It’s going to be okay, Moonbeam. We’ll find her,” he says, and I want to believe him…

I just don’t think I can.

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t be laying all this on you. I know you’re upset right now yourself,” I utter as he pulls me back down the hall and away from Darren. We haven’t really talked about the things Atticus laid on him Monday, but I know it’s still bothering him. He’s been really quiet and sometimes when we’re talking, it feels like he is a hundred miles away.

“I’m fine, just got a lot on my mind right now,” he confesses.

“I wish you would talk to me about it. Maybe I can help,” I offer.

“Gavin, son, I need you to come with me,” the principal says, coming up behind us and surprising me.