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And then Michael’s words from earlier whispered in the back ofAt least I have him He’s the one person who has always had my back”

I couldn’t do this! Not to Michael Not to Gary But ive himself

Pull back, Dahlia Pull back before you can’t ever go back

With every ounce of will inside ainst the passenger side door “I’m sorry” I panted hard “I can’t”

Michael blinked rapidly as if he was co out of some kind of spell Realization dawned, and he squeezed his eyes closed and pinched the bridge of his nose “Fuck, Dahlia, I’m sorry”

“No, don’t” I didn’t want hi that hadn’t happened “We didn’t do anything We talked, we hugged End of story”

He looked like he wanted to argue but whatever he saw in my face made him stop Instead, he nodded and put on his seat belt “I’ll take you home”

I flushed froht Michael had driven me home, the atmosphere between us thick with sexual tension that refused to abate, and I dove out of the car to get away froet back on track as friends I think mostly because ere addicted to each other’s company Neither of us would admit it, so neither of us knew at the time how the other felt

But he was my safe haven from the bad blood between my mom and me

Bad blood I didn’t understand then, and I still didn’t understand now

Dillon’s death had been the end of whatever possibility ether I understood that I just didn’t understand everything that had come before

Maybe if I could, I’d find a little bit of peace And perhaps if I could et closer to that peace Facingto Boston

Facing Michael for the second ti However, I’d faced Mom and survived

I could survive Michael

I hoped