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He exhales, touching his nose gently and wincing. It’s swelling, but not bleeding anymore. “He’s my brother. As much as I hate the things he does, you’re his and I’ve broken a secret code by taking you home.”

“A secret code?” I say. “This is ridiculous. You only gave me a ride, Samuel.”

He chuckles. “But my intentions aren’t good, and I think you know that.”

I blanch. I’ve always known Samuel’s liked me, and Danny even told me one time that he was in love with me. I guess I see it. I’ve just been…ignoring it? I love Danny. I always have, and I’ve been so blinded by the love I have for him that I didn’t want to see anything else. I hate to think that way, but it’s the truth. I’ve been a foolish girl.

“Yeah,” I say. “I guess I do.”

He doesn’t speak for a minute, and then he says, “I better go.”

I nod. “Okay. Well, thanks for everything.”

“Anytime, Bex. I’ll see ya.”

“Bye, Samuel.”

Chapter Nine

Bexley

One month two days missing

I’ve been staring at the walls, thinking back on our past. Thinking back on when we were two kids in love. I shouldn’t be thinking about any of this, but it’s all there is to do. Danny slept a little, and when he woke up, I gave him some more ibuprofen. Taking the water bottle from his lips, I ask, “So, what are we going to do about our situation?”

“We’ve got to get out of here,” Danny says.

I laugh. “I don’t think that’s working out too well.”

“I don’t need your smart mouth right now, Bexley.”

This pisses me off. “Oh. I’m sorry. I guess I should be nicer to you, being you’renotthe reason we’re in this situation.” I walk over to the window, looking out into the thick forest. A bird lands on a branch, fluttering his wings, tilting his head in a jerky way before taking off. God, how I wish I were him right now. I’d fly away from all of this. I’d start a new life.

“How long were you in jail?” I ask quietly.

“What?”

“Prom night. When you hit my uncle and broke Samuel’s nose,” I toss that back in there, and I know it’s because I’m intentionally trying to hurt him.

Being petty isn’t a cool thing to be, but sometimes it’s all we’ve got.

“Only hours,” he says. “Moretti got me out.”

I look back at him. “A few hours?”

He exhales, looking up at the ceiling. “There’s so much you don’t understand about my world, love.”

“Don’t call me that,” I say acidly.

This time he laughs, focusing his attention on me. “You don’t get it, do you? It doesn’t matter who you married. It doesn’t matter how many years have gone by with us being apart, you still belong with me.”

“Oh dear God in heaven, if you believe that, you’re more insane than I thought.”

He chuckles, looking toward the floor. I twist the top of the water bottle, exhaling as I turn toward the window again. And somewhere…deep inside, I know he’s right.

“How did you do it?” he asks.

“Do what?” I murmur, looking out at the trees as they sway.