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“Yes, well, we believe in safe places This is Stella’s space,” Kevin mentioned “Dessert is ready”

We all headed to the dining room and sat down at the table In front of me was a slice of my favorite apple cruht in I pushed the pie around and didn’t eatabout how Rosalina calleddessert

Rosalina cleared her throat and shot hter and rolled her shoulders back, echoing how I should’ve been sitting I sat up straighter and moved my elbows off the table She smiled, pleased

“Stella, aren’t you going to eat?” Kevin asked

“Not really hungry,” I muttered

“Hmm? Speak up, sweetheart,” Rosalina said She said it in a say, but it seemed mean, still

“Not really hungry,” I repeated, louder

“It’s probably for the best You ate a lot of supper,” she co back to her dessert

“Can I go to my room?” I asked Kevin

“Sure, of course It’s been a long day I’ll stop in to say good night soon, okay?”

“Okay” I pushedtoward my bedroom

“No running in the house, sweet Stella,” Rosalina said “Walk like a lady”

I slowed down et a strike from Rosalina

A little while later, there was a knock on my door “Stella, can I come in?” Kevin asked

“Yeah”

I was already under ht was on as Kevin walked in He smiled over to me and pulled up a chair beside my bed

“Today was a big day,” he mentioned

I shrugged, not sure what to say

He frowned He still looked sad, even though Rosalina was supposed to make him feel better

“I feel like I haven’t been the best for you, Stella Like, I’h for you,” he confessed

I felt like crying It sounded like he was going to give me away, like Rosalina said “You’re ot watery, and he leaned forward and gave me more ocean kisses

“You’re my best friend, too, kiddo”

“Why are you sad, Kevin?” I asked

He tilted his head “What do you mean?”

“You’re crying”

He touched his cheeks as if he didn’t even notice his es are going to get better, though You like Rosalina, right, Stella? She said you two had a good talk”

I tugged on the blanket and thought about our talk I wanted to tell hiet rid of me I also didn’t want him to be sad anyain So, I did what I was told, and said, “Yes”