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“I’ain

Her eyes crinkled orry, and I knew no matter what I did or said, she’d worry anyway

I grittedin for a quick hug—patting her back twice—because I kneould make her feel better “I’m okay,” I repeated

Turning around, I headed down the hall, exhaling when I rounded the corner and she hadn’t called me back or followed me

Veering to the right, toward the boys’ roo around the corner of the hallway ahead and stop,my eyes

I stopped too

So weird crossed his black eyes, like a mixture of amusement and interest, and I braced myself as he walked for me

I liked my uncle Damon He didn’t try to talk to me all the time

Usually

I watched, et inmy nostrils

“I knohat you did,” he whispered, keeping the words between us

I stared at him

“If ain,” he told me “Understand?”

I remained silent

But I knehat he was talking about

I didn’t understand most people They acted like most decisions in life were a choice Was I not supposed to do anything when those ht?

That hy I’d kept my mouth shut My parents would’ve freaked out if they’d lost us, and they still would’ve freaked out if they’d kno I’d stopped it They would’ve just confused me I didn’t knohat they wanted

But Uncle Damon wouldn’t make me respond to a question he’d already faced the answer to

And he didn’t seem upset

“You got any bad feelings about what happened tonight?” he asked me

I dropped my eyes

The lie would make my parents worry The truth would make them worry more

“Yeah, didn’t think so” He smirked “If you ever do, you come see me Got it?”

It took a moment, but I nodded

He dove in and left a peck onon his way

I waited until he was around the corner before I dug out the handkerchief in my pocket and wiped his tobacco spit off my skin

Stuffing the cloth back into my pants, I walked into the dark bedroole beds, and Gunnar was in the bed next to mine, his covers down around his feet

Dag and Fane were up in their nook in the attic, while the girls were next door