Ecstasy

She glances at the glass on the floor. “No, you really don’t need to—”

“Fuck, Zara, just let me fucking take you.” I walk toward her and it looks almost like she flinches. What the fuck? “I need to get out of this house anyway,” I tell her, my voice lower. “I don’t want to deal with my parents’ bullshit.”

She swallows hard, then looks up at me. “You need to deal with your mom. She’s probably hurting right now.”

Eli clears his throat and we both turn to look at him. The fridge door is still open, but he looks at me when he says, “I can go with her.”

I start to tell him that that’s completely fucking u

“Thanks,” she says quietly.

Eli holds my gaze.

I’m torn, because I know Mom will need me. Even if she doesn’t want me to come down, she’ll want to talk. And if she doesn’t talk, she’ll be using, and I don’t want that.

I clench my hands into fists and turn to Zara. “Are you sure? Look, Za, I really don’t—”

She wraps her arms around my neck, pressing her body to mine.

Out of the corner of my eye, I see Eli is still watching us.

“I’m sure,” she tells me, her voice low. “I’ll be okay with Eli. Take care of your mom.”