89. (Luke POV)

The run had been invigorating, an ecstatic blur of speed, wind, and the primal joy that came with the shift. For the first time in years, I had Trevor running beside me. Louis, too. It felt like a reunion of souls, a moment of unspoken brotherhood we'd all longed for but never articulated.

Yet, as the house came into view, a magnetic pull started to hum in the background of my thoughts. It whispered promises of relief and escape.

The stash in the truck calling out to me like a siren song.

I hesitated, torn. I had promised to turn over a new leaf, to be better. But the call was insistent, a dark melody woven into the very fabric of my being. With a sense of inevitability, I found my feet carrying me towards the truck. I was so engrossed in my internal struggle that I didn't even notice Lexi was outside, too.

As I cut the powder into lines on the seat, my thoughts spiraled. "You idiot," I chastised myself. "A momentary high in exchange for what? Trust? Love? What's wrong with you?"

I w