Page 84 (1/2)

Violet s with the hem of her jacket "My mom told me it was one of you That Sara called and told the down at his feet "Sara would’ve come too, but, you knowyour parents I don’t think they like her right now"

Violet nodded She understood "So it was Krystal?" She didn’t knohy, but for soht they shared some sort of connection and that he would’ve been the one to find her "How? Or should I ask who?"

"I’ll let her tell you But I know she felt bad it didn’t happen sooner" And then, as if he’d understood what she’d been thinking, he lifted his eyes to hers "I’m sorry too, V It should’ve been me I should’ve saved you" This time when he tried to touch her, Violet didn’t stop hirazed, their pal, re Violet that she was still alive That Caine hadn’t crushed her spirit

"Rafe, I can’t--" She pulled her hand frolanced over her shoulder to where Jay was standing, and saw that his attention was focused solely on Rafe

"I know," Rafe said, more to himself than to Violet

She turned back to hi

"Go," Rafe insisted, letting her off the hook "It looks like it’s killing hiet back inside before Krystal starts baking your dad a cake or sohed, a first in days "He’d probably like that" She sain, but she stopped him before he reached the top "Rafe," she whispered "Thanks for being here"

And then Jay was at her side, and she forgot all about Rafe as she slipped back into his ar into her own bed Her face lifted to his and he kissed her First on the head, like her mother had done, and then on the cheek, the way her dad had But then his lips found herelse entirely

Soue

VIOLET STOOD AT THE CHAIN-LINK FENCING outside the park, curling her fingers through it as she stared at the playground beyond After a minute, she checked the time on her cell phone

It was 2:53 She was seven minutes early

She had no idea what to expect fro at his office, why he’d insisted they meet at the park down the street from the elementary school in Buckleythe saht her cousins to on a day that felt like it could have been a lifetiured it was just another for out on her

She sort of thought he ht not want to see her any the team and all It had been hard to tell Sara, but at least she’d made it easy on Violet She’d understood, of course It probably wasn’t the first ti traumatic and come out of it with a new perspective on life

Geiddy about Violet’s decision, unable to hide her srin, and Violet had almost taken it back, had almost decided to stay just to wipe that triu the others had been da Krystal had done for her