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The letter made my skin ice over when I found it. But that was the one I copied in Mom’s office. Because a quick web search Nora did revealed what I suspected: the girl is still in high school.

“I’ll send copies to your workplace, to start, and if that doesn’t dissuade you from pressing charges or suing and feebly trying to ruin a good man’s life, I’ll take them public. The public might want to know about the man who tried to keep me down and instead showed me the opposite of what love is supposed to look like.”

“I always knew you were a bitch,” Simon snarls.

It’s the first time I’ve ever seen him spew hatred like this—it’s not his MO—and for a moment, a jolt of fear trickles through me.

Then Simon surprises me further, by grabbing my wrist.

I flinch, not at his touch, but because he’s gripping the fresh bandage I have over the tattoo there.

The fear is still there, but I shake it off. I think of Eli, and Griffin, and the fact that I know, in my heart, this is the last I’ll ever see Simon Houghton.

This is his death knell.

“Whatever you’re planning,” I say, my voice as hard as his was a moment ago, “don’t. Look behind me.”

I know his eyes land on Nora’s camera, because he drops my wrist fast.

“Goodbye, Simon. Don’t ever, ever contact me again.”

Then I turn and get back in the car.

Nora waits until we drive around the corner, passing Simon—who looks so small and fragile I almost,almostfeel sorry for him—before speaking.

“You good?”

“I’m good,” I say. I smile, my hands tightening on the wheel. “I’m great, Nora. Amazing.”

My buoyancy is only held back by one thing. One tight, burning, heart-beating thing.

Eli.

The man I’m still angry with. The man I’ve tried and failed to wrestle my thoughts about. But I don’t need to think about him right now. I can’t. I need to focus on this feeling of exhilaration rippling through me. I turn to Nora. “I don’t want to go home yet. Do you? We can spend the day here, pretend there’s no such thing as heartbreak and love, just for the day.”

Nora laughs, though the sound almost cracks. I reach for her hand, squeezing it tight. I know she’s in love with Jude. It’s obvious by the way she looks at him, by the way when he throws his arm around her like she’s his best bud, she closes her eyes, just for a moment.

But I don’t say anything, and neither does she. She just squeezes my hand back. “Yeah, I took the day off, might as well make it worthwhile. And maybe you can tell me everything he said over lunch?”

“And then the big library with the lions? I know you love that place.”

“I do. But maybe we can go somewhere else?”

“Anywhere you want, Nora. I’m free as a bird.”

CHAPTER31

Reese

TRACK:The Secret Sisters, “Hold You Dear”

We don’t end up heading home until six, which I know means we’re not going to be back in Quince Valley until close to midnight.

But it was worth it. Worth seeing Nora’s face spread with a grin as I gave her the play-by-play of what I said over pizza and worth riding on the high of telling Simon off after all those years. I sent a message to Cass, telling her I was fairly confident Simon wouldn’t be pressing charges on Eli or the hotel.

CASS: I could kiss you! Please call me when you can.

After pizza, we went to the Documentary Center, a museum dedicated to documentary filmmaking, and I swear I’ve never seen Nora so alive, so outgoing with her words and effusive tugging me along to the different exhibits.