Page 62 of Broken Butterfly
“It’s fine. I wish things were different.”
A few people walk by us, one guy in particular gives me a long look. “Hey, isn’t that—” I hear him say to the girl next to him. I won’t be made to feel like a sideshow freak. Our town is not that big, and what happened to me and my family wasn’t that long ago. There are bound to be people here tonight that will recognize me.
“How can so much change in four weeks? What happened between you and Julien?”
Elijah pulls me to a more secluded spot between two cars. “Please don’t take this the wrong way, but things between Jules and me started going downhill after you came back.”
“I don’t understand,” I say, shocked. I’m the reason they broke up?
“Liz, I’m not laying blame on you. Julien had been in a bad place for a while. After you disappeared at the end of senior year, it took everything I had to keep him from sinking into the same dark place Jay went to. Then when you came back, all Julien wanted to do was spend time with you. I got shoved to the side. Our relationship hasn’t been a priority to him for a while now.”
“Elijah, I don’t know what to say. Julien loves you so much, you know that.”
“He lost it when you went off with Fallon. Nothing I did helped and all we did was fight. You of all people know how much I love Jules, but I feel like I’ve given up my life and my dreams just to take care of him these past two years. I can’t do that anymore. He has to want to be with me, not just need me because I’m convenient and there to help pick up the pieces for him.”
I throw my arms around his neck. “I will fix this. I promise I will.”
“Liz, you can’t always fix what’s broken. He needs to show me that I matter. That he loves me enough to put me first. It’s up to him, not you.”
I know I hurt Julien, but right now, I want to kick him for being such a stupid jackass.
“Son, the races are about to start,” a man’s deep voice booms behind us. I lift my face from Elijah’s shoulder. It’s Elijah’s dad.
“Hey, Dad. You remember Liz?”
His dad gives me a visual perusal and I notice his lips thin into a hard line of worry. Elijah’s dad used to be a deputy for our county. He would come out to help supervise the races at the Fields, and make sure that things didn’t get out of control or too rowdy. From the sheriff’s badge clipped to his front, it seems Mr. Barnes is no longer a deputy.
“Yes, I remember Liz. How are you, sweetheart?” By the tone of his voice, I know he’s referring to more than just how I feel.
“I’m good. It’s nice to see you again, sir.”
“Please call me Rick, or at least Mr. Barnes. I assume the boys are with you since you’re here?”
“If you mean Ryder, Jayson, Julien, and Fallon, then yes. They’re around here somewhere.”
“Fallon is with you?” Elijah asks.
“Oh! I forgot to tell you. Marshall is here too.”
“Oh, shit.”
Rick asks, “Do I need to be worried?”
“No, Dad. Unless he starts something. Marshall was the guy who messed up Jules’s leg, and the guy Liz punched that night after he and Ryder raced.”
Rick gives me an amused look of approval. “Well, come on over and watch the races. I will say that there hasn’t been anyone nearly as good as Ryder, but we do have some young up-and-comers. I’m sure having Ryder Cutton here tonight will cause a stir among the crowd. It’s like having a celebrity visit.”
Sure enough, I hear a roar of applause and commotion and see Ryder surrounded by a couple of dozen people. A few girls sidle up to him vying for his attention. A brunette puts her hand on his arm and I’m about to go rip her fingers off when Ryder beats me to it by removing her grasp. I also notice Marshall leaning against his car and staring at Ryder. Maybe Rick does have a reason to be worried about tonight.
The three of us start making our way over to Ryder and Fallon, but Rick stops me before we get there.
“Liz, I want you to know how sorry I am about your parents and sister.”
“Thanks. It’s been hard being back here, especially since I got my memories back.”
“I heard about your injuries and memory loss. I’m familiar with your case. Detective Harnett is a friend of mine and I know he’s been trying to get in touch with you. Is there a reason why you’ve been avoiding him?”
“Look, Mr. Barnes, I don’t want to be rude. Too much has happened recently and I’m finally settling into a good place, mentally. Once I’m ready, I promise I’ll call him.”
