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“Practiced at forcible entry, are we?”

“Only when I need to be”

Out in the dark with only the stars lighting the way, I felt safe with hiot when you felt like someone could haul you into their ar around ht maybe, just maybe

Then I pushed those thoughts aside He’s being a friend Just like he’s been a friend for nearly a year now Stopping into the house to make sure I’m okay and steal treats But there’s never been aze kept dipping to my chest, but that was probably his overprotective streak—I’d seen it come out s straight in my head

Don’t slip up and don’t get any ideas about what this ht be

“I’ve never seen stars like this before” Berk stopped beside ht up

“Less light pollution out here”

“Soet to look up”

“You don’t see thehtest stars can shine, but out here even the little pipsqueaks get a chance We can stay out here, if you want” I flicked ether and kept ht to my chest “I’m sorry you had to see that” I couldn’t breathe Her words still rang in ress I’dto sink into the floor

“What happened? One second you were there and the next you were gone”

And now he thought I was crazy

“It’s nothing” Was I overreacting? He’d been less than a foot fro hat she’d said

“You’re upset Like before Tell me what happened” The earnest concern in his eyes reat tiain because of my mom You’d think after so many years I’d have a healthy callous built up to her words, but every ti wound only barely starting its healing journey

I held his gaze

His eyebroere furrowed, and he looked ready to take on whatever had upsetfor him, I was a half-step away No one had ever looked at me like that before