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The door is open and as I near her room, I take a deep breath and let it out slowly

This is it

I squareand finding Trista as she stands on tiptoe in her closet, pulling a box off the shelf above where the clothes hang I rakeas I take her in long, tanned legs in cutoff shorts, as well as a thin t-shirt that’s raggedy and seen better days Her hair is in a high ponytail, and she grunts as she e of the box and pull it down

When Trista turns, she’s not surprised to seeshe heard herwith her packing to keep herself busy I’ she’s as nervous as I am

“Welcome back,” she says softly

“A to cut to the heart of the matter “Am I welcome?”

She sets the box on the dresser near the closet, and then tucks her hands in her pockets She’s standing on one side of the bed and I’m on the other, but it feels like miles apart

“Kynan toldabout you, Michelle, and Jayce,” she says, also apparently preferring to get to it “It explained a lot to me”

I nod Kynan had told e hihtto know the truth of everything I hate I wasn’t here to give it to her, but I’m thankful Kynan was and could put her mind hopefully at ease a bit until I returned

“Trista,” I say as I start to round the bed to move closer to her I stop just a few feet away and disclose edto send that stuff to Jayce”

“I believe you,” she says, and I hear the truth in her words She’s not blowing s it either “When did you change your mind?”

It’s probably not going to set ith her, but I tell her the truth “Not until you brought me the cake I put the stuff in the shred bin that day”