Page 73 (1/2)

“Do you regret it?”

His question was unexpected I’d been so off kilter since I’d gotten up So h

Shawn laughed at so that happened on the screen Malcolrabbed one of the throw pillows to put under Shawn’s head before he got up

I reached out for his hand “Where are you going?”

“To take a shower”

There was sadness in his eyes when he looked at

I let go of his hand so I couldwith the characters on TV I took Mal’s hand and pulled him into the kitchen I sat n in hts

“Malcolm, I—”

He put his hands up to stop me “You don’t have to explain”

“Yes, I do Last nightlast night I couldn’t sleep Everything just kept running through ot I started to feel suffocated and needed out of the house”

Banging co one of Mal’s game controllers on the coffee table

I ran over to take it from him “Shawn, no” He immediately fell to the floor in a fit of tears I picked hi to pick up the scattered ite “I’ tired I should take him home”

Malcolm came over, and helpedto stop you, but I would like it if you’d stay At least until we can finish talking, because I would really like to not leave this unresolved”

My first instinct was to flee, to take this chance at escape and run Avoiding conflict and anything that made me unco my head in the sand Then there was the sadness in Mal’s eyes, the pain in his voice

“Okay, but I need to get hiht?”