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"So we’re on for next year?" he checks, and I nod without any contemplation I knohat I want and I’ in fear

"Good," he says and then leans in to kissulf mine

The fireworks explode and booainst the dark sky, but I think about nothing but hiood-bye and move on

Callie

The next teeks are pretty uneventful Between the road trip, the recovery, and the confessions, Kayden and I are drained and we spend the rest of our winter break avoiding our houses, and hanging out in the hotel room, diner, or café asout with us a lot too It’s been snowing quite a bit, but the air feels warht At first I wouldn’t tell her where I was staying, because I didn’t want her trackingwith Kayden and Seth in a hotel room

She isn’t very happy about this, but I’m almost nineteen years old, which is what I tell her

"Callie Lawrence," she says after I finally tell her I’ on the hotel roo behind ers

Every once and a while, he hits a ticklish spot and I giggle

"This isn’t funny,"irate

I cover hter Once I settle down, I lower my hand to my lap "I know, Mom"

"You need to cohs "Callie, the police said they can’t do anything about it and even if they could Caleb… he… No one knohere he is still Jackson thinks he ht have taken off"

"I already knew the police couldn’t do anything," I tell her, lying down on the bed beside Kayden He has his boxers on with no shirt and when he snuggles against me the warmth and sturdiness of his chest soothes me "And I’m not surprised about Caleb"

"But…" She’s frustrated and I hear soround "Shit," she curses--she’s been cursing a lot lately "I broke a daup my shirt to the area between my shoulder blades

"You don’t need to be sorry, sweetie," she says and then sighs "It’s just a cup"

As ive her credit for how nice she’s being through all this After her meltdown, she’s been less teary eyed and she’s never once tried to put the blahts wander back to my twelfth birthday and my head fills hat-ifs What if I had told her then? What if I’d never had to suffer in silence for the last six years? What if hts right out of h tis, but I can move forward and create the life I want

"Callie, did you heara little annoyed

I blink away h frooing to get into trouble" He makes a silly airhead voice when he says it

I reach back and pinch his arhs even harder

"What, Moht about going to that therapist friend of et back to school? I think it’ll be good for you"

"I’ up if I do"

"Callie, I think it’s is you told et so here with us and take a seo back to school," I say "I need to ated pause "Then please just go see the therapist…" She’s on the verge of crying "I need to know you’re okay"

I glance over my shoulder at Kayden "I’o, then I will"

"Good" She sounds relieved "And you call me every day

And stop by here today before you leave"

"Yes, Mo?"

"Yes"

Kayden starts laughing hysterically, rolling away fro she is and apparently seeing it in action is humorous to him

"Who is that?" hing?"

Craning my neck, I peek over my shoulder at him and he smiles "Kayden"