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“April. It doesn’t have to. If Crawley contacts you, call me. I mean it.”

I hold up my hand in acknowledgement but keep walking away. When I round the corner, I sag against the wall. What the hell just happened? I know, it’s what I always feared. I’m not meant to be here, and the universe is telling me I was right.

When I reach the library, I’m greeted by silence. I pull out my phone.Shit!The bus has already left. Scarlett and I promised their parents we would have them home before dark. The bus and my only form of escape, thanks to Crawley, has left.

Making my way up to Caleb’s bedroom, I grab my bag. I still need to leave. I need time to think. Samuel and Dan called to say they would not make it. Dan has the flu and my bestie is playing nurse.

I reach the door when I hear voices.

“Kat, listen. You’re being ridiculous.” It’s a male voice. A voice I recognise as Jaxson’s.

“Me?” comes the furious reply. My spider senses tingle. Iwasn’t wrong, although I hate the fact I’m eavesdropping on their private argument.

“I’ll leave,” he says. “But this isn’t over.”

“Yes, it is,” comes the sharp reply. “Get out and stay away. I don’t need you, I never did.”

Jaxson says something I can’t quite hear, but the sound of heavy footsteps storming past my door lets me know he’s left.

There’s an annoyed shriek from one of the bedrooms, followed by a loud thump. I decide it’s now or never.

Grabbing my bag, I head for the entrance. Jaxson is taking his keys from one of the valets.

“Jaxson,” I call, making him stop and look over his shoulder.

“April?” He frowns.

“Can I grab a lift with you back to the city?” I ask, walking up to him.

He looks at the house behind me, and then his gaze locks with mine. “Throw your bag in the boot,” he says, popping the trunk with his key fob. I do as he asks before climbing into the passenger seat next to me.

“I’m not going to be great company,” he admits, his expression lost in thought.

“Don’t worry, neither am I,” I reply before turning to stare out of the window, my brain lost somewhere between deep thought and brain fog.

CHAPTER 55

CALEB

Ispot Kat and head over to her.

“Have you seen April?”

“She’s gone.”

It’s Elijah who steps up and gives me the news.

“What do you mean, she’s gone?”

“She left. About an hour ago.”

I stop. My brother knows more than I do and the confused look both Kat and I are giving him.

“Why would April leave?”

I look at my brother and see the guilt pass over his face. I step up to him, chest to chest. To outsiders, it may look funny as he has four inches on me, but I’m riled now, as my memory goes back to last year and the way he treated Leah.

“What did you do?” I hiss at him.