Finding Delaware (State of Us #1)

by Bree Wiley

I’m off my bike instantly, Huckslee’s coat gripped in my fist as my other one clocks back. He flinches, eyes squeezing shut to brace himself, and in that moment, I pause. My heart is racing, blood rushing to my ears as I fight every impulse inside of me to punch his gorgeous fucking face in. Old Taylor would have done it without hesitation. But I don’t want to hurt him. I don’t. I’ve hurt him enough. So I pause. Take a breath. Close my eyes. Slowly lower my fist. And step back, and back, until I’m once again on the bike. When I open my eyes, Huck studies me like we’re strangers, and it hits me that we are. It’s unreal how quickly two people can change in four months. “You weren’t there,” I accuse softly, gripping the handlebars. He must not have heard me because he tilts his head and steps closer. “I don’t know what we are, Huckslee. Maybe at one point, I did, but all of that changed. And I know I can’t undo everything I’ve done, but I almost fucking died, and you weren’t there.” I tried to play it off like it didn’t bother me, but that court-ordered therapist is actually good at her job. She presses into my bruises until I have no choice but to bleed, and honestly, it’s cathartic. I’ve seen her more than just the three times I was supposed to. It feels good to talk to someone about stuff when you’re not worried about their bullshit. “My dad tried...” Huck’s voice trails off, and my bike roars to life as I nod grimly. “Yeah, he did. But you didn’t.” With a deep breath, I t...