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I’d driven back to Whidbey Island just as the sun had been rising over the mountains behind me and for the first time in the ten years since I’d lost Revay, I’d felt a few one back to thes My plan had been to return to the hospital only long enough to take care of the hospital bill, but when I’d spied a toy store on the way to the ferry dock, I hadn’t been able to curb the need to leave a little piece of myself behind with the little boy who’d reth was all about

Matty’s smile as I’d entered his hospital room had turned me inside out and when he’d put out his ar of tears I’d felt burning the backs ofto retreat in on myself I’d had no doubt that he’d knohat my plan for Tate was and I hadn’t wanted to risk the same look of censure in his eyes that I’d seen in Ronan’s that first day

I’d listened as Matty had proudly explained how brave he’d been for all the tests and procedures that had been done on him and that he’d made a new friend named Susie, but my heart had nearly broken when he’d asked if I would spend the night like his daddy did The doll I’d bought him had helped appease him when I’d explained that I had to leave for a while and I hadn’t lingered after that Partly because I hated hurting the little boy who’d clearly grown fonder ofthe shitty way I’d treated him But mostly because I hadn’t wanted to run into his father My obsession with Tate was spiraling out of control and I’d been terrified that even being around hioodbyes would have hadmore than I should

So for the first time in my life, I’d run I’d taken the coward’s way out and I’d left a note…a fucking note And I hadn’t even had the balls to actually tell Tate I was sorry for what I’d done I’d gotten inand as the hts of Tate from my mind and I’d done what I did best I planned

But a stranger showing up in the dead of night wasn’t part of my plan I had no reason to think it was anyone but a har for nearby Yellowstone National Park, buthardened, evil men had skewed my reality and I was always on the alert for any possibility Hell, truth be told, my faith in humanity had been fucked up fro house and foundon the floor of our bedroom, her body covered in blood as flames had licked at her skin

The car rattled to a stop about ten feet froe made it impossible to see the driver’s face But the second the door tentatively opened and brown hair appeared, I kneho it was and my stomach dropped out My mouth went dry as Tate’s eyes connected with h ut

Neither of us spoke after he closed the car door and for the life ofat each other I still didn’t understand how I could suddenly be attracted to awith evenanotherhies ood Tate would feel inme

Tate’s eyes finally shifted to the rifle I had in round I’d terrorized this h, even if my threats had been empty ones

“What are you doing here?” I aze fro of weapons I’d been putting ineven as I heard Tate approach me When he didn’t answer me, I made myself turn to face him and saw that he was less than a foot from me…it would be so easy to draw hily I suspected he was gay based on the encounter he’d had with the ht I’d broken into his apart After all, Tate hadn’t see the man’s attentions And his physical reactions to ainst me at Seth and Ronan’s house, as well as in the hotel rooht we’d driven up to Seattle from California, could have just been fear on his part