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"Let’s get out of here," I say

Chapter 26

Mateo

My mind tries to wander to the e, but I don’t let it There’s nothing good down that path Standing in the locker room, I focus instead on the fact that today isThere’s no reason I should ame I’m fine

Physically, at least

My head is a little blank A little numb But that’s not the concussion That’s Nell

I keep waiting for it to feel like Lina, like my life has just detonated But no, Nell isn’t the type to leave shrapnel, well, not unless you count the final words she said to et that you loved her But any kind of love where you have to prove yourself to be worthy is the wrong kind And you’re better off without her

No, Nell didn’t leaveher was the final thing I needed to heal all the dae Lina did toshe’d do all along Only this was better This wasn’t just blotting outaway their power

Because what I had with Lina? That wasn’t love It was infatuation

And I hate that it took losing Nell to see just how different things are with her I know I still need to talk to her It isn’t fair the way I left things I don’t want her to think that Lina was the only reason I ith her, that she was only a replace new Soiven et what it was like to be with Lina, and no other girl had ever been able to do anything but blur the memories

Nell obliterated them

But not because of any sih in my head and one for Nell that she takes up every dah every single second of our tiether I can closethe first tiht inafter she gave herself to me

No, Nell didn’t leave me with scars

She left h, the ease hich I canthat perfect catch She took ether She took it all

And there’s no fixing that kind of thing I can’t blot over it with distractions or reet it back Pure and siaht, I’ll find her I don’t know yet what I’ll say We both said things in that fight that we probably shouldn’t have But I know that e have is worth salvaging I don’t kno I’ll get her to give h to say no

But I’ll do it I have to