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Whenshe comes back—ifshe comes back—IknowShannonwill forgive her.Dreawill forget all about it.

ButIwon’t.Iwon’t forget, andIwon’t forgive.

Ever.

Chapter19

“Heart of Darkness”

–Grim Salvo

Myback slamsinto the seat when theJeepsuddenly halts.Iforce my eyes open.

We’renot turned over in the river—we’re cockeyed on the side of the road over dead grass, just past the metal railing of the bridge.

“Whatthe fuck was that?”Tyswears loudly, peering over his shoulder at the river. “Y’allgot an owl problem around here?”

Myeyes widen.

Ifind the barred owl settling on a tree limb over the river on the opposite side of the bridge from the abandoned approach.Itsfeathers shake until it goes still.

Itsdark eyes focus on me.

Iswallow hard. “Drive.”

“What?”

“Justfucking drive!”Iyell, glaring at him.

“Okay, shit,” he grumbles, checking the road.Thedollar store sits a few yards away from the bar with a cracked lot that we park on. “Hey—”

“Don’tgo across that bridge again,”Itell him firmly. “Takethe long way.”

Hescoffs and unbuckles his seatbelt. “Don’tgotta tell me twice.”

Irub my eyes until silver dots pop in and out of existence in the darkness. “Fuck.”

“Hey, are you okay?”Tyasks.Hishand slips over my thigh. “Youwere acting weird back there.”

“Justdon’t take that way,”Isay before exiting theJeep.

Herushes in front of me to open the door.Chillyair blasts our faces, andImove quickly to grab something, anything to occupy my hands and my thoughts.

ButallIcan think of is the tip of his hat—acknowledging me, the fact thatIcrossed paths whereIshould’ve stayed fucking dead.

“Stephani, hello!”

“Huh?What?”

“You’vebeen staring at the same bag of chips and it’s a little scary.Yousure you’re okay?”

“Oh.”Itry to laugh it off. “Yeah,I’mfine.”

Ilead us toward the bread for buns.

“It’sjust an owl, babe,” he comments nonchalantly.

“Don’tcall me that.”Anddon’t trust an owl inSanAntonio.