Page 63 (1/2)

Finally, he aze

“He orried sick about her, and you don’t knohat you’re talking about There are sos you don’t understand”

His words were like a punch to the gut Whether they were true or not didn’tto understand, despite the voice inside her head telling her it was better this way To be on the outside looking in

“I’ hio froht now Not with Kaden angry or annoyed or frustrated or whatever it was he clearly felt toward her, but she had no clue how to fix it

Feeling every ounce the outsider, standing on his porch, she shifted her weight and kicked a stone at her feet She wished she could take back Friday night She wished she could go back to the day she shared her secret and stop herself, so they could rewind to hi about hiot him in trouble

“Okay Well, I guess I’ll be going, then” She hesitated, knowing it was ti away Instead, she gazed up at hi for his right between theotten so off track

He stepped down onto the stoop in front of her and closed the door behind hih her

He was finally going to talk to her, she thought, but the feeling didn’t last long

Shoving his hands in his pocket, he stared at the ground as he said, “Listen, I’m sorry I know you probably came here because we’re supposed to ure out what’s in Newberry I knoe planned on doing so we’ve learned the last few days, butnot today I’ve got Sophie to take care of, and then—”

“Is that why you think I came here? That I expected you to help me today and leave her?” Abby frowned

He shrugged “Isn’t it?”

“I came here because I orried about Sophie—about you I had no idea rong and iined the worst Since I hadn’t heard from you, I didn’t know if she was okay or how much trouble you were in with your dad And I’ht all this on, so” She sed over the luue like sandpaper “But I see you’re fine, and I shouldn’t have come My mistake”

She spun on her heel, wondering why her chest felt so tight

When she stepped off the porch, her feet hit the cracked sideith an o down on her shoulder and stopping her fro any further

“Wait” Strong fingers pressed into her skin as he turned her to face him She met his eyes, turbulent as a tropical storm and dark like muddied waters