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I know it’s my mom

No one else would call, and especially not at such an aard moment

She always knohen so’s up, and usually always calls at the worst possible time

But I didher how bad I feel for not being there to say goodbye

“Your dad was tied up anyway,” she says, sounding upbeat but alreadyexcuses for the man

I wonder how long it’ll last this time A week? A month?

“I’ her list off all the reasons she’s worried about me

Least of which is an argu that Suze will be calling her anyith her version of events

But at the top of her list is the new stranger in my life, Michael

“Just be careful sweetie,” Moet off the train, and stick close to Suze,” she says a couple of times Like she hasn’t even heard a word I’ve said

Feeling suddenly fatigued again at dealing with this, with these people I just go along hatever she says until I can get off the phone

Grateful when I reach Michael’s suite and find his door open

He looks up, bea

I must have it written all over my face, but it’s such a messy story I don’t knohere to start

The best res and buried ain

His war over et about everything else instantly

Chapter Sixteen

Michael

She’s upset when she coured any talks with her best friend would be like that for a while yet

I’ot off the train when she did, or we’d have her to deal with too no doubt

“It’s like I predicted,” Natasha says when I probe her Asking her firmly if she really is okay

I hate seeing her without a smile

“…Idown so o rescue hi

Upset but not broken over it all

I rub her back, trying to find the right things to say when she says it all herself

“I don’t bla her hands into my chest like a cat before she nestles deeper into me