Page 21 (2/2)

I was always forbidden frorows up someday

I gulp down the nerves as I follow Liam upstairs, and we enter the tiny tree house It can only fit two or three people at once, and our feet stick out from the door But it’ll do as a temporary hideout

From here, we can see the busy streets of the city in the distance, car lights flickering everywhere Sirens blare in the distance, a co city The only light all the way up here co from the back door porch, and it’s quite cozy in here But definitely cold I shiver in place

“Are you cold?” Liam asks “Here”

He grabs a soft blanket lying on the floor of the tree house and wraps it around me “It’s not , I would’ve come prepared”

I chuckle “It’s fine Thank you”

The blanket smells like him Familiar Warm Gentle

“So, you wanted to talk?” he asks

I look at him, and the honest kindheartedness reflected in his eyes is so else to witness Especially compared to the darkness in Luca’s They’re complete opposites in every way

“Yeah” I clutch the blanket tightly “Luca told ht to the source”

“Luca?”

“Yeah, he … ca to the surface I don’t intend to tell anyone, let alone Liah as it is

Lia, didn’t he?” His whole body tenses up “Yeah, I’ve known for a while now, but I shouldn’t have told him”

“Why not?” I look up into his eyes, but all he does is look away

“My parents don’t want him to know yet They fear it’ll make him lash out”

“I see …”

“Didn’t your parents let you know?” he asks, suddenly looking my way

I shakeuntil after the fact”

He snorts “I day”

I laugh, but it’s not at all funny “Exactly”

“Not that we’re gettingon it

“Are you … happy about that?” I ask,in my chest

He rubs his lips and looks out into the distance again There’s also a distance between us that I don’t kno to describe, but it doesn’t feel right

“It’s so quick I thought I’d have ht …”