Page 93

We keep moving, driving down streets and into neighborhoods. We see the same downtown again and again. “Oh, there,” I say, pointing to a road we haven’t taken before.
Grandma steers the car that way. “Fingers crossed.”
We drive up the street. Cute houses mirror each other on both sides. Some driveways are empty, some filled with cars.Beyond them, picture windows are the perfect frame for the people eating inside.
“There,” Grandma says, pointing out a park on the left. “It’s the first park we’ve seen.”
She slows, and my stomach tumbles when I see a group of people around my age huddled on the other side of a fence. I scour the area for Cade’s car but don’t see it.
Grandma pulls in and cuts the engine. “You should ask, at the very least.”
I take a deep breath and let it out. “I will.”
But I stay in place, my mind screaming how stupid this is one second, and the next, urging me to get out there already because I’m being ridiculous.
“You do have to leave the car to ask them,” Grandma reminds me. “Or I can do it. People love senior citizens. I can pretend I have Alzheimer’s.”
A laugh bursts from my mouth. “I’ll do it. I’m doing it,” I tell her, pushing open the door.
The group glances my way. One of the girls narrows her gaze at me, but I keep putting one foot in front of the other. By the time I walk up to them, they’re all turning toward me and staring.
“Hi…”
“Hey,” the girl greets, gaze narrowing further. It isn’t a critical gaze. It’s as if she’s trying to place me, but obviously, none of these people would know who I am.
“I’m looking for Cade Farmer.”
The girl’s lips pull into a grin. “Is your name Charley?”
My mouth opens in surprise. “Yeah. Yes. I-I’m Charley.”
“I’m Briar.”
I suck in a breath. It’s Cade’s friend. The one who lost her brother. This is the place. I turn toward Grandma and give hera big thumbs up, then turn back toward Briar. “You were at my house, weren’t you? You helped fix it up.”
“Yeah, I was. This is Lex.” She hikes her thumb toward the tall guy next to her. “He helped, too.”
“You’re Lex?” These names I know. My stomach squeezes with excitement. “I’m…” Overwhelmed with images of them helping out at my house, all I can do is throw my arms around them. “Thank you. I don’t know how you guys did it so fast. I’m…speechless, apparently. Thank you.”
A calmness settles over me like a soft sway of a rocking chair. That’s how I should’ve thanked Cade. With an open heart instead of fear.
“You’re so welcome,” Lex says, and oh my, does he give a giant bear hug. “Any friend of Cade’s is a friend of ours.”
“He said you guys are like family.”
“It’s true,” Briar chuckles. “We’re attached at the hip.”
Emotion overwhelms me again, and I take a step out of their circle. “I really need to find him. Can you point me in the right direction?”
“Well, for starters…” Briar points over my shoulder. “You can just look behind you.”
26
Cade
Hands stuffed in my pockets, I walk toward my friends. As I get closer, a form with familiar black hair throws her arms around Briar and Lex. I stumble to a stop, peering at them.
It’s her…