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Hidingup the phone I turn to Shane just as I receive the incoe with the address His eyes are unreadable, but his postureaway to talk on the phone to another guy Since I wouldn’t like it either, though, I don’t give him any shit for his needless jealousy

"The address, Willa"

I pushthe shiver that goes up rowls at me "Give me a few minutes, and I’ll come with you"

"We don’t need a referee"

"You totally need a referee" I start toward the inn, noticing for the first ti for you, I’ her out of her boyfriend’s house for doing so, she’s sure as shit not going to get into your car She’s done nothing wrong and she shouldn’t have to take the bus by herself"

"Nothing wrong?" He’s right behindon the floorboards of the pub "Leaving without telling us where she’s going? Worrying , just turn and look at him He finally hears himself and his features cloud over It’s not what Iangry with Faith for the sa hisI could take back the last five minutes, I walk toward him with no idea what et there, walking stiffly toward the office "Meet ret swi to think I push people ahether it’s intentional or not

Chapter Nineteen

I’ve brushed edoutside for ainst the passenger side, arms crossed, expression closed off When he yanks the door open for h and do as he asks At the very least, I see my battles

He climbs into the driver’s side "Address"

I read it off the screen ofood distance away, or it’s a bad section of Dublin I’ on the latter The drive only takes about ten minutes but the atht-years away fro IWhack-A-Mole with my worries and insecurities Did I overstep ure out the quickest way to get rid of me?

Part of hts because they distractpicture In a week, I won’t be here to run interference between Shane and Faith To witness this fa for the ride

We pull up in front of a row of connected houses, desperately in need of a paint job Children are kicking a soccer ball around in the street, using overturned garbage cans as goals I’m sure to Shane, this looks like poverty But I’ve seen what poverty looks like, I’ve lived it, and this isn’t it These people arean effort Their cars are clean, they have banners for their favorite sports tea warm jackets

I follow Shane up the path to a red two-story house When he knocks, I can hear the laughter inside cut off immediately He notices it, too, and shakes his head Without a thought, I reach over and take his hand He looks at me in surprise, whichit to open I feel a sudden, fierce need to be on his side here I’ve saidHe’s about to face a firing squad for being a caring brother and dauy Hell, if I’d snuck out without telling Ginger where I was going, she and Derek would have kicked the fking door down to drag , but he badly needs an ally

The door swings open and Faith is fra, white-trimmed frame She crosses her ar ood tihteously pissed "Listen tofoot outside this house with you I’rooman who knows her own mind Just because I’m your sister doesn’t et that sorted"