I live in a college dorm and share a room with a quiet girl I never talk to. The all-work-no-play mindset works great for expediting my college career, but it’s detrimental to other aspects of my life. Right now, I just need to focus on succeeding. Maybe someday, I can use the money and my future salary to buy the entire ranch. There’s an inheritance, but I left it up to Lorne to handle the legalities from prison. Until I realized the best revenge is to put all my efforts into me instead of dwelling on them.ĭalton Cassidy’s funeral came and went. I throw myself into studying, maintaining a perfect GPA, and proving my self-worth.īeing rejected by every person I ever loved started a vicious cycle of self-hatred. With twice as many credit hours as the average student, my life revolves around schoolwork. I push through the days and nights in a blur of sleepless dedication. Returning the phone to the cradle, I walk away.

Then his voice crackles through the phone. “He choked to death.” I stare at the floor. “There was so much alcohol in his system it shut down brain function and other things, like his gag reflex. “Found him?” Something cold and hard forms in my stomach. “Chicago Mercy Hospital contacted me last week.” His palm flattens against the glass, his tone dropping to a cautious hush. I return the phone to my ear and meet his gaze. He presses a hand against the glass then holds it up, extending his pointer finger.

“Wait,” he mouths, surging from the chair. With numb fingers, I move to put the phone away. He knows Oklahoma State University has always been my dream. I lower the phone from my ear, and a hollow thump echoes in my chest. Go to school in Illinois where you qualify for in-state tuition and-” He’s always been a terrible liar, and I know all his tells-the looking away, the fidgeting, the rambling on with too many words.

He’s talking with his tongue out of his shoe. I can’t hear the sadness in your voice and maintain the air of confidence I need in here to survive.”

“I can’t keep in touch with you because it reminds me that I’m in here and you’re out there and I can’t protect you. “I couldn’t, Conor.” He averts his eyes and twists a finger around the phone cord. “What about for ignoring me? For not calling? For not taking time out of your busy schedule to ask how I’m doing?” “You’re sorry for Dalton?” I tilt my head, swallowing against the sharp pain in my throat. He nods, curling fingers into a fist on the counter.Īnother nod.

Knotted by Pam Godwin