As I take a bite of the buttery goodness, the expression that crosses Apollo’s face makes me think he’s not telling me something.
“Did you already move me in here?” I glance around the room to see if I missed something. I think my mom would have said something last night when she was in here watching a movie with me. There aren't piles of boxes lying around.
“I wish,” he mutters under his breath. I smile while taking another bite of my toast. “But there is something I haven’t told you. About the car that hit us.”
“You said they were okay,” I say as he stands from the bed. I knew it was the other person's fault but was told the person was okay. “Oh god. Did someone die?” He shakes his head, and I release a breath. “What the hell, Apollo?” He’s scaring the crap out of me.
“I didn’t want you getting upset.” He runs his fingers through his hair, looking flustered. What could be worse than someone dying? “It was Amber,” he finally blurts out.
“But she’s okay?” She’s a bitch, but I still don’t want her dead. I recall her passing us when we were leaving the party and worrying that she’d been drinking. Shit.
“I’m not sure I’d call her okay.” His tone is thick with anger.
“She did it on purpose.” I piece it all together and as I do, a tear slips out. “Sometimes I think the world is against us being together.”
“No,” he says vehemently. “Nothing will stop us from being together.” Apollo sits next to me. “We got all of the bullshit out of the way. Everything else from here on out is going to be smooth sailing.” He nuzzles against my neck.
“I’m not so sure about that. Women have a way of going crazy over you,” I tease him. “What’s going to happen? Is she going to be at school when we go back?” That would be a bit awkward.
“No. She was drinking, and the police investigated the accident. They found from the evidence that she hit us on purpose. She never tried to brake. In fact, she accelerated into us.”
“She tried to kill me.” Apollo’s whole body goes solid.
“Last I heard she was transferred out of a mental hospital to await her hearing. It’s too big a case for our little island town to handle. It’s been handed off.”
“Okay.” I lean in to kiss him.
“It’s not okay.” He drops his forehead to mine. “It’s my fault.”
“Stop that. It is not your fault.”
“It is!” He jumps up from the bed. “I threatened her. I told her I’d ruin her if she didn’t leave you the fuck alone.”
“I mean, that’s not roses and chocolate, but it’s still sweet that you did that for me.” He looks at me like I’m the crazy one now. “Apollo, clearly she was unstable before. Your threat was nothing to her. It was only a matter of time before this happened either to you and me or someone else. You have to see that,” I try to reason with him.
“I’m not sure I can,” he says before going back over to his desk to sit down. Apollo is always close but still somehow far away from me.
Amber might not have taken me from Apollo, but I think she took a piece of Apollo from me.
Chapter Eight
Apollo
It’s been a week since we returned to school. It’s hard for me to leave Celeste’s side, even for a moment. She thinks I’m being overprotective, but when it comes to her safety, can I be too protective? Maybe she’s right and I’m obsessive over the accident, but the thought of losing her consumes me.
This afternoon she’s meeting with Emerson to work on the prom planning. She asked me to pick her up afterwards and didn’t invite me to go with her. Maybe this is a test to see how I handle a few hours apart. She smiled at me so sweetly when she informed me of her plans, so I know she wasn’t deliberately trying to hurt my feelings.
I love spending time with her. Is that so terrible?
“A word, Mr. Crew.”
When I turn around, I see Principal Nolan in the hallway walking toward me. “Is it ever just one word?”
She narrows her eyes at me, but I see she’s fighting a smile. “How’s your arm?”
“Healing. The doctor said I should be ready for training again this spring.”
“I heard from your scholarship committee this morning.”
My stomach sinks. They sent me an email earlier this week, but I ignored it. I wasn’t ready for the answer, and I’m still not ready now. But I know Principal Nolan, and there won’t be any way to get out of listening to what she’s going to say.
“They wanted me to remind you that your invitation is contingent on graduation and not on your final season of rowing. You’re still allowed in their athletic program once you’ve been cleared by their medical staff.” She gives me a sympathetic smile. “I know that finishing this season strong was important to you, but there is a bigger prize that waits beyond graduation.”
I think about Celeste and our future and what it will look like if I go to college. Will I even be okay with that kind of separation? I’m pensive as she steps closer and puts her hand on my shoulder.
“Let me give you some advice from your friendly high school principal,” she says, and it makes the corner of my mouth turn up. “Your decision to go to college doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Going to state isn’t the end of anything.”
I look at her and wonder if she can read my mind.
“Just because you pick up one thing doesn't mean you have to drop another.” She smiles as she squeezes my shoulder. “You’ve got two hands.” With that, she turns and walks away, leaving me standing there in my own thoughts.
The rest of the day moves quickly, and thankfully Celeste and I haven’t missed too much with our assignments being sent home. The rowing team is still calling me captain even though I’m unable to finish out the season. Their support is surprisingly comforting as the freshman twins ask if they still need to keep an eye on Celeste. Knowing that my teammates still have my back makes me feel like I did something right.
“Okay, so Emerson is going to drop me off after we’re finished, and I’ll text you when we’re on the way,” Celeste says after school.
I press my lips together, knowing that I can’t and shouldn’t stop her, but still feeling like I need to protect her. “Okay,” I finally say, trying to force myself to relax.
She goes up on her tiptoes, and I lean down to meet her lips. “I’ll be fine,” she tells me and pats my chest to soothe me.
It works, at least for now. “Have fun,” I say, and I do mean the words. I want her to have fun and be happy. I just need to know she’s safe.
“Don’t worry, I got your girl,” Emerson calls out as he throws his arm over Celeste’s shoulder, and they walk to his Jeep.
For a long minute I contemplate following them and sitting outside the diner until they’re finished. But that wouldn’t make Celeste happy, and that’s always my first priority.
When I look around the parking lot, I see it’s mostly empty except for a few cars. The black sedan a few spaces down is the first one I spot, mostly because I see Shy leaning up against it. We’ve never been friendly, but I wouldn’t say we’re hostile either. He keeps to his side of the school, and I keep to mine. Sometimes I catch him looking at me, and I wonder what it is he sees. There’s something about him that nags at the back of my mind, but instead of trying to figure it out, I keep my distance.