The Summer of Broken Rules

by K.L. Walther

“She’s making the sun shine.” “For Sarah,” I said. “No.” She shook her head. “For everyone.”

Because his grin was the type of imperfect crooked grin that made you want to grin back, and his eyes…if you looked past the dark bruise, they were straight out of one of the fantasy novels that Claire and I loved so much.

Claire was gone.

I wanted to kiss Wit.

“Sarah and Michael,” I reminded him. “It’s for Sarah and Michael.” “Wrong,” Wit said. “This is for us.”

“Then come with me,” Wit said softly. “Come to New Zealand.”

“I love you, Meredith,” he said before kissing the top of my head. “You have no idea how much your mom and I love you.”

“Enough with this pretending nonsense. If you want him, go get him. Don’t miss your shot.”

adore you,” I whispered. “Please tell me you know how much I adore you.”

“I know you don’t like hearing this,” I heard him say, “and I know I promised not to tell you, but you are pretty, Killer. You’re pretty, beautiful, stunning, mesmerizing.” He paused. “But that’s not all you are. You’re everything Claire said and more. Clever, funny, caring, lively, strong, brave—all of it. You are all of it.” He kissed the top of my head. “And I do know how much you adore me,” he whispered. “I just wish it was as much as I adore you.”

“Hey, Stephen!” I called, and two seconds later, I was right next to him. I grinned, took his hand, and said, “Tell me more about New Zealand.”

“Because I adore you, Stephen,” I murmured. “I adore you, but I love you even more.”

I visited the old oak tree at the edge of the Annex’s lawn and ran my fingers over Claire’s notches in the trunk while imagining the inscriptions on her trophy. “I’m going to win,” I whispered once I reached the final mark. “This year, I’m going to win.”