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My phone pinged just as I closed my bedroom door after my date with Drew. Any thoughts of a sexy message from him fled at the caller ID: unknown caller.

My chest seized, my breath resuming as I focused on my inhales and exhales, consciously filling my lungs all the way to the bottom. Yoga breathing for the win. While I could achieve a measure of calm, my breathing regimen couldn’t turn back time. Couldn’t make me unsee the message.

Unknown Caller: Meet me tomorrow night at the marina park, 7 pm.

Unknown Caller: You know I hate it when you’re late.

I paced my room, any good vibes from my night with Drew gone, the raw edge of panic driving each step. Any time I dropped focus, my breathing seized, locking stale air in my lungs. Only moving, step by step, kept me from trembling until I fell apart.

Not only had they found me, but he was on island. I rushed to the front door, checking again that I’d locked both doors beforetesting the windows. Vi was likely fast asleep. There was no reason to alarm her. I hated that I’d brought my troubles to her doorstep. I could only hope they hadn’t discovered exactly where I lived. Who my friends were.

I wrapped my arms around myself. My dad was nothing if not thorough. If they’d found me, there was little doubt they’d done their homework.

I bit back tears as the fear took hold, a serrated blade that punched me viciously with each memory. I’d worked so hard. Built a life. Made friends. Found a man I could fall in love with. But I couldn’t jeopardize their safety.

My illusions about my family went up in smoke when I fled. The question stacked up: what did they want? And did I have enough leverage to make drop them their demand if it wasn’t something I wanted to give?

My only choice was to meet him at the park. I shivered. I’d hoped to be done with Owen when I found out what he really was. Who he really was. But tonight’s text message was proof positive that the past wouldn’t stay buried.

The fantasy that I could reinvent myself had been shattered. The only real question left was how much damage there’d be in the aftermath.

***

I slept fitfully, tossing and turning as snatches of the past invaded my dreams. The dark circles beneath my eyes as I looked in the mirror the next morning hinted at my restless night. Applying extra makeup helped hide the worst of the damage, but there was no concealing the faint tremble in my mouth and hands.

Vi looked at me over her coffee cup. “Honey, you look awful. I don’t really want to know, but was hethat bad? Do I need to apologize for ever introducing you?”

“Drew is lovely. I just had a rough night.”

“Yeah, and not the good kind. What’s wrong?”

“Just some news from home. Nothing to worry about.”

“Liar,” Vi said. “That’s not me talking; it’s those dark bruises under your eyes.” She frowned. “You know, if you need help, we’re here for you, right?”

I smiled, love for my friend making my chest feel lighter than it had in the hours since the text messages. “Yeah. You’re the best, Vi. I appreciate you, you know that, right?”

She pointed at me. “Don’t let my sweet façade fool you. I can also be the worst when I need to be. And I’m happy to be my worst for you. You didn’t hear this from me, but after the manure caper, my brothers suffered an unfortunate number of mild food poisoning episodes and stomach bugs. I know my way around laxatives.”

I giggled, picturing it. Sixteen-year-old Violet, vindictive as hell, but sneaky about it.

But I needed more than pranks to get me through a confrontation with my family’s representative.

“I’ll keep that in mind,” I promised, pouring myself a cup of coffee. “What time are we meeting at the trailhead?”

Violet glanced at her fitness tracker. “Lucy and Rae said nine.”

“So, nine-fifteen?” I asked with a grin.

She rolled her eyes. Our tardy friends rarely showed up fewer than twenty minutes late. “Yup.”

Drew: Want to get together later tonight? Maybe a drink at the brewery?

A flash of giddy pleasure warmed me, beating back the icy dread that made my muscles feel locked and stiff. I enjoyed the sensation for a precious moment before I remembered the othertexts, worrying my lip. I didn’t want to blow him off, but I had to put my past behind me before I could plan the future. Before I could count on evenhavinga future here.

Anya: I’ve got an errand this evening. How about tomorrow?

Drew: It’s a date.