in the car,
sharp. He had one hand on her arm
ehind her, glass still scattered on the ground. The cold night
at the lights. She lo
g was
had he
me. Wh
ll
d her coat tight around her. It was thin. The
gain. He opened th
ng jaw, gray-blue eyes. He didn't smile. But
Liam walked around and got into the driver'
ds were tight on the whe
happened back there?" she
obably a storm," he said finally
pocket. The note was still
show it to
aid. His voice had changed. I
ht. Warm, too. She was scared. But al
*
rked the car. He got out
coat moved slightly in the wind. He sm
ked right into her eyes. "Call me i
throat felt dry.
a moment longer, th
r. Locked it. Then
ch. Her body felt heavy.
t her phone a
a said. "
note?" Ella asked.
loud. Too fake. "You're being paran
ike your handwri
uch." Ava's voice was cold now. "Come out t
t answer.
laugh didn't sound like her.
, Ella dre
ress. It was heavy. Full o
. Her face was
f her. He looked sad.
d a voice. A
not
was shar
nded l
s beating fast. She sat up in bed,
t was silent
t prayer and we
rning, she
s alrea
coffee. "You
ded. "T
l at this, Ella. You work f
e looked down at her desk.
say much. But when she looked
hat do you like t
," she said. "Sometimes they feel r
ady for hi
he d
eyes serious. "Like
before they got into an accident. I told them to be careful
e nodded slowly. "Th
t him. "You
nger things," h
, Ella wal
e. Leaning a
er eyes. "You've been spending a
linked
Her voice was sharp. "You
faded. "Just
g about Ava felt... off. Li
, Ella cam
Set her bag down. W
she s
on the
p. Her hands st
er and Liam. Sitting
taken it f
eath c
he door. Loc
cked the
lt like it w
was watc
sleep. Sh
every sound m
m., she dr
dream c
altar. White
ood bef
e, someone e
v
shadows. Her ey
nd whispered, "
m echoed in
ke up, hea
orning, Li
sleep," he
hook h
, pointing to the rep
inked.
u've done enou
e. The air was co
ound her in t
erday," he told her. "You
t him. "What
people," he said. "They tal
lowed. "
e's something you need to t
uth. But she didn'
ote. Not
he dr
tayed late. Liam wa
he left, he t
fe," h
hecked the mail.
she got t
sa
ond p
it was of h
her
t n
ins had b
taken it f
itched. Her
. Slammed the
fell to
tared
h
oc
. He
art st
nother
idn't
ll
voice. D
lla. We nee
d away fro
d the photo
were wide
ce call
la.
know if i
meone
ng in her g
as not
sa
no