Page 21 of Into The Rabbit Hole

She’d fully updated Wes on everything, and she was grateful for hisunderstanding.

“I’m worried about what will happen if no one can help.” The thought had struck her over and over again, and worse, she’d been reading on the internet about all sorts of possibilities. The sentences for murder paralyzed her with fear when she read though all the potential sentences Wade could face. Depending on whether he was sentenced for first- or second-degree murder, he could be looking at anything from life imprisonment to death. That was what it said on the legal advice website. She remembered seeing notes that the death penalty hadn’t been carried out since 2006, but she was being realistic and knew there was nothing to rule it out in Wade’s case. Theycouldkill him. A tear ran down her cheek at the horrific thought and her hands startedshaking.

Even Wes looked worried. “We can’t think about that. We can’t. We just have to try and be strong. You have to. More than me. I will be strong foryou.”

“You’re a great friend,Wes.”

“Aren’t I just?” Hesmiled.

She loved that he could always find a way to offer light humor just enough tosoothe.

“Friends for life, Chloe. That’s you and me. We’ll be in a nursing home together eating Pop Tarts for breakfast and Jolly Ranchers fordinner.”

“I like the food part, but somehow I don’t think we’re nursing home people. You’d be bored playing chess andcheckers.”

He nodded, agreeing. “And they’d think I was strange. I’m not giving up my superhero t-shirts.”

She looked at his X-Men t-shirt and smiled. Wes was the only person who could wear clothes like that and make it look seriouslycool.

“And I don’t liketea.”

“Chloe, I’m sure they’ll have hot chocolate.” He laughed. “How about this thought. We’re 65 and we’re on the beach watching our grandkids play in the sand. We send them away so we can keep all the candy toourselves.”

She laughed at that thought. She actually laughed, then she nodded. “Yes. That’sbetter.”

His expression returned to its former concern. “I’m worried about you in this house,Chloe.”

“I’ll be okay. I promise I’ll be safe,” she assured him. “Ipromise.”

“Okay. I’ll continue to come by.” He pressed his lips together. “How’sTaylor?”

At that she smiled. This smile came effortlessly. Him being here was helping, but his evident affection for her best friend pacified her aching heart. She’d forgotten that he’d all but confessed his feelings for Taylor when they were at the hospital and she was in the coma. She also knew they spent time together over the last weekend. Neither had said anything, and the chance hadn’t really cropped up to talk about it. Her weekend was spent trying to calm Taylor down in one way or another. First it was the whole Richard thing, and then finding out that Brian was herfather.

Then fast forward to today, which saw Chloe locked in the house crying for Wade and worrying herselfsick.

“I wish that I could say she was fine.” Chloe brought her hands up to her chin and clasped them together. “You should go see her. She’d likethat.”

“You think it would be okay? I don’t want to impose.” Her nervousness was adorable because it was something he so rarelyexpressed.

“You’re not imposing. I know she’d be glad to seeyou.”

“Did she say something?” Wes straightened up quickly, looking on at her keenly. “I mean, not that she would, given what’s going on. No, I don’t expect her to have saidanything.”

“Did somethinghappen?”

“No.” He shook hishead.

“She likes you,” Chloe saidsoftly.

“Did she saythat?”

“She doesn’t needto.”

He smiled, looking pleased to hear that. “I’ll go see her. And then I’ll come back here fordinner.”

“No, come by tomorrow. I’ll befine.”

He stood up, walked over to her and planted a kiss on her forehead. “Make sure you eat,Chloe.”