Rhea

The boys stood there, unsure of what I was asking them. I knew what I wanted, and I knew they would give it to me. I just had to make them understand.

“Are . . . are you sure?” Ezekiel asked. “You’ve had a rough night, maybe we shouldn’t—”

“I want to forget,” I repeated, “and you can help me do that.”

“Okay, okay,” Lionel said, raising his hands in surrender. “Just lay down, and we’ll get ...