Page 106 of Offensive Plays

I look at her. “It’s not, though. Libby, you never have to see them again if I have anything to do with it. You understand?”

She nods and quietly says, “Can we just go home?”

“Let’s go,” I say, grabbing her hand and taking her back to my car. “I’ll call Zane and he’ll come get your corvette, okay.”

Libby doesn’t say anything. She just nods.

She looks exhausted. And I’m still wrapping my mind around what just happened.

Pulling into the apartment parking, we didn’t say anything the entire ride.

“Libby, do you want me to call someone?”

She thinks about it a moment. “Can you call my mom?”

I look at her.

“I could just really use a mom right now.”

I can’t tell if she’s delirious or if that was just a riddle. But she doesn’t clarify. She just opens the door and walks up the steps to our apartment.

I call the only person who would know what to do.

“Where is she?” Zane says the moment I open the door. I motion toward the bedroom where Libby is lying down.

He nods and pushes past me. Kesley walks in behind him.

“She asked for her mom,” I tell her.

Kesley tsks. “My sweet friend.”

“Did you know?” I ask her.

She nods. “I held her the night she came home. It really messed her up.”

“Fuck,” I say under my breath.

“It’s okay. Zane was the right person to call,” she assures me.

“I didn’t know what else to do.”

“You just be there, Ferg. Libby’s never been able to fully deal with what happened. She was forced to bury it away in her heart and act like it was nothing. She needs time to process.”

I nod, accepting that answer.

It feels like hours later but in reality it must’ve only been one, when Zane emerges from the room.

“Is she okay?” I say popping up from the couch.

“She will be,” he says.

“Should I go in there?” Kesley asks.

“She’s asleep,” Zane says.

“Good,” Kesley says. “Then we should probably give them some space.”

Zane agrees and slaps me on the shoulder. “Take care of my sister, Fergie.”