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Violet didn’t even bother to go inside. She sat on the porch swing with her camera next to her and stared out at the thunderstorm. She was lost. She’d thought she had been before, but she was even more so now. She had no idea what the next day held for them, if Diane would change her tune now that everything was out in the open, now that Violet had confessed…

Lando slipped onto the swing next to her, two mugs in her hand as she pushed one in Violet’s direction. “Thought you could use some tea.”

“Thanks.” Violet took the offered drink and let the hot ceramic warm her cold fingers. Lando stayed relatively quiet as they sat together, the slight sway of the swing from their bodies and the wind, the rain pinging the tin roof of the wraparound deck. “Where is she?”

“Up in her room, I think. Haven’t seen her since lunch.”

Violet sighed. She didn’t want to deal with Diane if she could avoid it. She needed more time to let that conversation settle. “I don’t know how much longer I can do this.”

“Do what?”

Lando’s question may have seemed simple, but Violet knew the answer wasn’t. Tears stung her eyes for the first time that day, and Violet wondered where her emotions had been back in that bedroom when she’d talked with Diane. She hadn’t felt this kind of pain before, the struggle to just get through the moment. She had no idea why she was talking to Lando anyway. She certainly didn’t deserve to have all Violet’s problems thrown at her.

“Any of this,” Violet whispered, overwhelmed and not even sure where to start.

“Violet,” Lando’s voice broke. She leaned in, pressing her hand to Violet’s thigh, the warmth from her fingers seeping into Violet’s cold skin.

The tears broke loose. She couldn’t control them as they spilled down her cheeks. Lando grabbed her mug and settled them both on the deck next to the swing, and then she did the unthinkable. She wrapped her arms around Violet’s shoulders and dragged her in for a long embrace.

Lando soothed her, running hands up and down her back, trailing her fingers in swirls and random patterns against her spine, her shoulders. Violet even dared to think Lando dropped kisses into her hair, but she wasn’t sure. No matter what, she was thankful for the moment they shared. She needed the friendship more than she cared to admit.

Wiping her eyes, Violet sat up and shook her head. “I talked to her about this morning.”

“Oh,” Lando answered, folding her hands in her lap.

“She swears there was a storm cell, but I think she wanted us out of the house.”

“Why?”

Violet shook her head again. “I don’t know, honestly. Diane has always been a bit of a mystery to me. She keeps a lot of secrets.”

Lando pursed her lips and crossed her arms. Violet caught the move and instantly knew Eli had been right. Lando knew more than she was willing to admit.

“Lando,” Violet’s voice broke on her name.

“Yeah?”

“Do you know why?”

Lando shrugged noncommittally, which only confirmed to Violet that she at least had some idea. Sighing, Violet leaned into the swing, staring at the rain as it continued to fall. It was a beautiful storm, even if it wasn’t one of the big supercells they were always looking for. They fell into the silence, neither moving or leaving, and Violet took comfort in that as well. She was so used to being on her own, alone, that to have someone who stood by her even when they didn’t know what was going on was welcome.

“I think Diane wanted us out of the house, too.”

“Why?”

“Because she wanted out of the house.” Lando stared off into the distance.

Violet had barely noticed how much older she looked than she actually was. Trauma would do that to anyone. She gripped Lando’s hand, threading their fingers together and giving her a gentle squeeze. She could give as much comfort as Lando had given her. At least, she hoped she could. “I can understand that desire.”

“Can’t we all.” Lando’s lips turned up in a wry smile. When she turned, Lando’s gaze dropped to Violet’s mouth.

Everything slowed. Violet reached up and cupped Lando’s cheek, canting her head slightly. “I wish you’d told me that your grandmother wasn’t just your grandmother. You know that’s what we’re here for—teachers, professors. We’re here to support you as much as you need.”

Lando’s lip quivered, and she nodded. “Thank you, but I’m not your student anymore.”

“Because we’re here.”

“No, because I dropped out.”