One Day Soon (One Day Soon, #1)(111)

“Don’t know. She may have split town. Probably smart considering there’s f*ck all to stay around here for,” Karla snapped, grabbing the bag of bread and taking the last two pieces for herself.

It started to rain. Not much, just enough to make us wet. As much as I hated the cold, miserable damp, I was glad it wasn’t snowing anymore.

“Where’s Yoss?” Karla asked, tossing the now empty bread bag into the fire.

“He went to get some stuff. Uh…well…” I stuttered.

“Just spit it out. What’s your problem?” Karla glared at me. She was being particularly crabby. Not that I blamed her. I couldn’t summon up my usual annoyance with her attitude. We had all been through a lot. We were all grieving. Some allowances could be given for that.

“Yoss and I are leaving today. We’re getting out of town,” I finally got out.

Neither Shane or Karla said anything. The only sounds were the roar of traffic overhead and the crackling of the fire.

“Where are you going?” Shane asked after too long without saying anything.

“I don’t know,” I told him and Karla snickered hatefully.

“You don’t know? That sounds like a great plan,” she sneered.

“Karla, give it a rest, will ya?” Shane muttered tiredly.

“So Yoss sent you to come break the news to the kids. Isn’t that nice of him?” Karla spat out. She clenched her hands into fists. Her anger was wild and out of control and clearly focused on the wrong thing. Me.

“What did you say to make him agree to this? To agree to leaving us?” Karla asked. I looked from her to Shane, but he only gazed back blankly.

“We’ve been talking about it for a while now. I think now, after everything that’s happened, it’s the best time—”

“Whatever. Go ride off into your sunset and don’t worry about the people you’re leaving behind. Forget about family. Do what the hell you want!” Karla screamed, getting to her feet and stomping away.

“We aren’t abandoning you guys. You get that, right? We just…after Bug…after the fire, it seems like a good time to go,” I stammered to Shane.

“Don’t listen to her. She’s upset. Bug. Then Di taking off. Now Yoss leaving. She has a hard time expressing her feelings in a positive way.” Shane patted my hand. “You and Yoss should get out of here. I’ve never, in all the years I’ve known him, seen him happy. And he’s only happy with you. Take care of him, Imi.”

My eyes burned from smoke and tears. “I will, Shane.”

“Tell Yoss…” Shane gazed out at the river, his eyes losing focus for a moment. “Tell him it’s okay. We understand. And to be selfish. For once, be selfish.”

I didn’t understand. But I knew I wasn’t meant to.

“Yoss will probably be back in a little while,” I told him.

Shane stood up, shoving his hands into his pockets, his shoulders up around his ears to shield himself from the rain. “That’s okay, I think I’d better catch up with Karla.” He smiled at me and I was able to appreciate, perhaps for the first time since I had known him, how truly handsome he could have been. But Shane’s was a face that life had ruined. Scars were etched deep on someone so young.

“Take care of yourself, Imogen.”

“I will. You too,” I replied.



“Yoss isn’t back yet?”

I had been staring out at the river, imagining the life Yoss and I were going to have. The great things we would experience. Together.

Fanciful thoughts full of possibilities.

“No,” I answered Manny curtly, keeping my back to him.

“Hmm.”

Manny sat down beside me. Too close for my liking. I had never spoken to him without Yoss. I didn’t particularly want to start now.

“I’m glad to see you’re okay,” he said with a nice smile. Too nice. It was horrible.

“What—”

And then I remembered Manny helping me to my feet when I had fallen at The Pit. He had helped me outside and to safety.

“Thanks. For helping me out of the fire,” I said begrudgingly, hating that I had to thank him for anything.

“I wasn’t going to leave you there. Yoss loves you. That makes you important to me,” Manny remarked. He sounded sincere. As if Yoss mattered to him.

As if this despicable man could care about anyone.

I pulled my knees up to my chest and wrapped my arms around them. I had moved to underneath the bridge, next to one of the uprights in an attempt to stay dry. I had been waiting for what felt like hours. The rain looked as though it would never stop.

“Yoss says you two are leaving town,” Manny mentioned and I tried to hide my shock.

“You’ve spoken to Yoss?” Why was I asking him anything? I should just ignore him. Hope he’d go away.

“Yeah. He told me about your plans to get out of the city. I told him that was a good idea with the fire at The Pit. He needs to get out there and start a real life.”

“I’m surprised you aren’t upset about losing such a lucrative product.” I bared my teeth at him, my anger obvious.

Manny cocked his head as he regarded me. As if I were something cute he wanted to tuck away in his pocket. It was condescending. It was flattering.