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Closing

Behind me, I heard her voice, small and hurt “U, Bree”

When I opened my eyes, I saw my sister with her hands over her mouth “Think she heard me?”

She nodded

“Fuck!” I clankedI could shatter it against the wall—or even better, my stupid skull

“Hey” Justin appeared in the kitchen doorway “Winnie just blew out of here like a hurricane Everything okay?”

“I gotta go” I shouldered past him and headed for the door

Twenty-Two

Winnie

Don’t cry, don’t cry, don’t cry

Out on the porch, I took a few deep breaths of the crisp October air, trying to keep the sobs fro

I felt like I’d just gotten the wind knocked out of me

How had this happened? I’d been so careful this ti as I kept s in check

But you didn’t do that, did you?

A spiteful voice in my head spoke up

It doesn’tto do—it’s what you went ahead and did that uy who told you right from the start that he wasn’t interested in you like that

Yes, he was a jerk to say those things But you’re a fool And only one of you will cry yourself to sleep tonight

One tear slipped down my cheek, followed by another Behind lad for the dark

“Ready to go?” I asked, proud of how calm my voice sounded

“Yeah”

We walked to the car, and I waited stiffly while he unlocked the passenger door When I got in, I was careful not to brush against him, and I pulled the door shut myself

Worried he was going to apologize or offer an explanation right there at the curb, I was relieved when he started the car and put it in drive I really didn’t want to hear him say he was sorry Not this time

The ride hoe of my seat as if it was a life raft in choppy waters When he pulled into his garage, I was quick to unbuckle my seatbelt

“Winnie, wait” He reached over and circled o yet”

I froze, one hand on the door handle

“I need to apologize”