Page 10 (1/2)

Even though I could sense emotions, I didn’t always know the cause of thery, it could be directed atI did, or it could be because the Yankees won If someone was afraid, it could be because of a social situation or because they were awaiting the result of a ht now I didn’t understand why I felt fear frouilt

"Why can’t you talk about it?" I asked

She dug at the concrete with the toe of her sneaker "It woulda confidence Not that I don’t trust you … it’s just … I can’t"

I picked a piece of candy out for myself "But Michael knows?"

E "Well, I had to tell hi the cauldron back in its chair, I smiled thinly at her, turned on my heel, and walked away

"Kaleb, wait!"

I’d just crossed the square, weaving through craft booths bursting with canned vegetables and jars of ja dolls, when Es Cinerabbed my arm "Please"

Her face was so vulnerable, just like it had been the second before Poe had cut her throat open The round made me soften "What?"

"Michael’s known about this particular situation for a while… I’ from you on purpose But I promised to keep a confidence and I can’t break it"

Her raw honesty alirl wouldn’t know betrayal if it punched her in the face "You’re excellent at keeping your word Aren’t you?"

Her hand was still on my arm "I’ve never told hiht he was … dead"

"Youto carry her grief for her, but she’d stopped me

"What happened was between us," she said "And it’s not like it was a betrayal"

I knew part of her felt it was Taking emotion fro bond And with Eh I knew I had to

"You can tell hiued, when she started to disagree "It’s your place to share that, not mine"

"Only if you promise to talk to him about it after I do"

I nodded She’d tell him how it connected us I’d have to promise to disconnect it

"Soon And you need to talk to your dad, too After the way you argued with him today--he just wants what’s best for everyone"

"I’m not ready to talk to my dad" I stared at the line of movie posters on the brick wall in front of the theater Theya revival of some sort, because all of the posters advertised black-and-white films, with the exception of Gone with the Wind

"He loves you He’s proud to have you as his son His only son"

"Yeah" He lovedI wanted to do was to get into that with Eht the s, and she tucked it behind her ears "Also, about Lily--"

"Oh no" I shook et to yell atportion of the day I won’t bother her again, swear"

E her If you do, you’re the one who’ll be in trouble"