Letting You Go (Stone Lake 1)

“She told them that, but it doesn’t matter. They have witnesses willing to testify that you took advantage of Luna when she was sixteen and that she’s been coerced into giving you an alibi and into continuing a relationship.”

“That’s bullshit. Who would—”

“Your own father and brother and a few other classmates at school.”

“What the fuck,” I growl, standing up. I slam my fist into the block wall. Pain slices through my body, but I don’t care.

“Listen, I know it sucks now and you think this girl is the one—”

“She is the one,” I argue, yelling it out, because it’s true.

“I won’t argue she’s not a good girl and it’s clear she loves you, but, Gavin, you need to think with your head here.”

“What I need to do is get Luna and leave fucking Stone Lake as far behind as I can.”

“Then load up your crap and head out of town with me. I’ll be leaving at the end of the week. You can finish your diploma through summer school. I can arrange that for you.”

“I’m not leaving without Luna.”

“Son, I can fix your record this time. I’ll be honest, I don’t think anything would come of the charges her parents would press, but it would lead to an arrest and your record will be blotted with that shit. I can’t fix that. There’s also a chance that this small town will sew you up because they can. A lot of them are blaming you for the death of the Sampson girl, despite us letting you go. Your face, like it or not, has been made famous with this shit.”

That fear and panic is back, so heavy that it makes it hard to breathe. I study Dern’s face and I don’t doubt that he’s telling me the truth. I have a choice to make, but there’s no real choice. I need Luna to breathe, but can I risk the fact that having her may destroy me?

Without Luna I was never really much to begin with…

“I can’t leave Luna behind, Mr. Dern.”

He frowns at me and I can see the disappointment on his face. He reaches out his hand to me. “If you change your mind, you have my number.”

I nod, my throat too clogged with panic and other emotions to form a reply. I shake his hand and follow him out of my cell.

I have only one plan.

I’m going to load my truck up and grab Luna and get the fuck out of Stone Lake forever.

I hope doing that doesn’t get me locked back up in jail…

Chapter Sixty One

Luna

“Well?” Attie asks from behind my locker door.

I scream. I can’t help it. My nerves are on end and I feel like I’m dying inside. “Attie, you shouldn’t sneak up on me like that.”

“Sorry, I’ve just been worrying about you. Did you find out yet?”

I frown. I don’t want to tell him. I need to tell Gavin first, but Atticus is all I have right now. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t even know for sure….

“Thanks for buying…that for me.”

“What did it say?”

“It’s the first test I’ve passed in weeks,” I tell him, refusing to look him in the eye. I’m too lost in my head. I’m scared—terrified and I haven’t seen Gavin in what feels like forever. I need him… desperately.

“Luna, does that mean…”

“Keep your voice down,” I growl. “I’m pregnant.”

“Fuck.”

“That was my reaction. Oh, Attie, what am I going to do?”

“There’s a clinic—”

“No!”

“Luna, it would be the best thing for—”

“I’m not getting rid of my baby, Attie. It’s not happening.”

“Okay, fine. So, what are you going to do?”

“Have you seen Gavin? Can you get a message to him for me?”

“He came home last night and packed up his crap. I don’t know where he’s at.”

“Shit.”

I really don’t want to cry, but I can feel the tears gather in the corners of my eyes. It just all seems so hopeless. I don’t know what to say to Gavin. He made it clear he didn’t want a baby, and I can’t say that I blame him. How will he react when he finds out that I’m pregnant? Will he be mad at me?

Will he hate me?

I know it involved both of us, but most girls my age are on birth control, or at least have an idea of what they’re getting involved in when they have sex. I should have reminded him to put the condom on. I should…

“Luna? Can I talk to you?” I look up to see Wally standing there.

“Luna’s busy right now,” Attie says, but I ignore him. He’s trying to be protective right now, but Wally is a good guy—plus he’s one of Gavin’s only friends. Maybe he can tell me something about Gavin…

Anything.

“What’s up, Wally?”

“Can we talk for a minute? Privately?”

“Luna doesn’t want to—”

“I’m fine, Attie. Can you give Wally and me a little privacy?” I ask him. His eyes narrow and I know he’s not happy. He nods his head stiffly and stomps off, clearly upset.