Page 115 of Sticks and Stones (Shadow Valley U)

CHAPTER39

WREN

I slammy notebook closed and settle into the passenger seat. “Done.”

Ally takes her eyes off the road for a second. “Wren. You’re a freaking brainiac.”

My face falls. “What? No, I’m not.”

She focuses on the school’s parking lot. It’s busy, and there are people tailgating next to their vehicles, downing beer out of funnels like they’re only there to party.

“Those were no ordinary equations. You just made whatever the hell math that was seem like second-grade addition problems.”

I don’t bother correcting her to tell her that I was actually working on chemistry and not math, because to the normal eye, it is all the same.

“Where did you get your brains from? What do your parents do?”

My body heats, and the quick memory of my mother fades. It’s sad that the only one I have of her is one with a needle hanging from her arm. “Well…” I shift in my seat and watch Ally park. “My mom isn’t in the picture anymore.” I decide to leave that up to her imagination. It’s less awkward that way. “And my dad…” I think about how to say it delicately. “Let’s just say he used his brains for the wrong reasons.”

Jessie Davis is actually a highly intelligent man. I got my love for chemistry from him. We are both impeccable when it comes to working out equations, and he taught me everything I know.

Except right from wrong.

That, he wasn’t so good at.

“What do you mean?” Ally turns to me.

I nibble on my lip. I have no idea how to dig myself out of the hole. “He’s a convicted felon,” I blurt. “Makes meth for a living.”

Silence fills the car, all except Taylor Swift singing about being a vigilante, which is honestly quite fitting.

Ally’s laughter fills the awkward space.

I turn to her and smile hesitantly. “Um…”Why is she laughing?

“I’m sorry!” she sputters. Her attempt to collect herself fails. “It’s just…” More laughter.“I thought I was the only one who had a fucked-up childhood.”

I snort. “Fucked up is putting it mildly.”

Considering Jessie Davis is a free man and is likely on his way to me so I can make him thatgoodshit. No one made meth like I did—which is not something I’m proud of, nor do I plan to tell Ally.

“Let’s go,” Ally says, finally ending her laughter.

I don’t ask about her childhood, because if she wanted me to know, she’d tell me. I am well-versed in keeping secrets—especially if they’re painful.

Ally and I find our seats right before the game starts. We’re not far from center ice, and I eye the Knights’ side down below. I watch for Stone because he’s all I have eyes for.

I told him I loved him.

And I don’t regret it.

“There they are.”

I follow Ally’s line of sight and watch our team fly into the rink. The crowd goes wild, and I find myself cheering too.

I see Evan first.

Then Archer.