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Crouching, I set the box down Part of me wanted to stay to see her face, but the protector inshe needed wasfor my pat on the back for this I’d done this because it was the right thing to do, not to win her back or get credit She deserved it and she should always get all the goodness there was in the world—end of story

I stared at the door with a longing stronger than any I’d experienced before I wanted to find my mom and be there for Alexis, but I wanted Jules just asme crazy when I wasn’t near her I needed her, but she didn’t need so her

I’d held her in my arms, brushed away her tears and found ed for since I could remember, and I’d thrown it away

Walking backward, I had one foot on the top step when the door swung open

Jules ca her glove, and froze with it halfway on, staring back at me wide-eyed

The coward in me wanted to make a break for it Just sprint down the block like a lunatic caught peeking in aor checking door handles for an unlocked one

“

Berk” Her breath cale puff

“Hey, Jules”

“There you are I’ve been dreah our little bubble of past mistakes and heartache

“Hey, Nigel I was on my way to you”

My sto on already?

He had that perfectly layered t-shirt-sweater-coat combo that always made me feel like I’d stepped inside a furnace

“Not quickly enough” He hit the steps with his gaze squarely trained on Jules Not until he got to the second to last one did he even look at me I’d looked at her the same damn way

“Hey, I’el” With his hand out like he expected me to shake it, he stared at me