Shattered Girl (Emmy)

Chapter 164

Resolutions did not come overnight. Drew had taken me to my room, and we stayed there watching movies for as long as we could, but my stomach, rumbling louder and louder, finally sent us downstairs. The smell of lasagna and garlic bread had me running to the kitchen while a chuckling Drew followed me. Jake and Patrick were already in the kitchen with plates of food in front of them. Darren nodded towards the table. If he thought anything was wrong, he didn't ask about it. As soon as the lasagna was in front of me, I dug in, glancing at Jake as I inhaled my food. I finally caved and asked, "Do I want to know?"

"I may or may not have told them to grow up and start acting their age." Jake shrugged, and Patrick nodded in agreement. Drew gave me a look that said, 'See, I told you,' but I shook my head. "Are Mike and Josh not hungry?" "They can join us for meals again after they learn some manners. I expect meals to be peaceful," Darren said sternly across the room. I decided to let it go. I will find each of them later. This all started because I told them what was happening with the messages. As soon as that thought took root, I shook my head. No, this had all started after the accident. Relationships took work; I could not get lost in my head over this and risk messing things up. This summer has spoiled us. We were always together and easily found time for each other. Now, things were getting more complicated, and we needed to make it work; maybe starting having date nights with each other would be a good idea. Making it work turned out to be even more challenging than I thought. Josh and Mike now seemed to be avoiding me. Or maybe it was just my imagination. I had forwarded the threatening messages to Mike like he had asked, and he had just nodded before walking away. Yeah, work. I knew they needed time to forgive me for keeping things from them, just like I had needed time when they hovered; I hated the growing distance and even more having to take my own advice. Jake kept me sane, though. When I asked why he wasn't mad at me, too, his answer surprised me.

"Because you grew up learning not to trust anyone, it was better to do things yourself so you wouldn't be disappointed when you were eventually let down."

"But I do trust you guys."

"I know you do, and so do they. But we all have something to lose now, which makes us all fiercer than we were before."

"How do you know us all so well?"

"Perks of being me," he grinned. "Not everyone can be perfect."

him before leaning over and

Patrick's father, Liam, I gave him a questioning look as I accepted the call. He had called to personally invite me to Shannon's birthday party this weekend. I'd held my hand out, and Patrick had easily tugged me onto his lap so he could hear his father as clearly as

Guilt flooded me, and I looked at Patrick with raised eyebrows.

love to be there for Shannon's birthday. We will see you

see you then," Liam responded before disconnecting the

at the phone for a long

before you let any of those negative voices in, my

become quiet, and Josh's face had turned into a scowl; Mike, however, had startled me the most. His expression had gone completely blank before he stood up and stormed out of the room without a word. I had stared after him before looking back at the guys, unsure if I should go

will go make sure he doesn't do anything insane like take all the

would do? But Drew had left to follow him, leaving me with Patrick, Jake, and

kind of wanted to stop at a couple of bookstores I had read about, but I didn't think that would go over well if I brought it up right now. "Baby girl," Josh said. "We all knew you would be meeting the rest of Patrick's family, and that has nothing to do

maybe take the train?"

"She has to overcome her fear of driving, and we

Jake swore as he leaned back in the chair. We were sitting outside in the