Page 118 of Wherever You Are

Garrison’s lips shut and his head falls again. I just want to hug him. And it’s a weird feeling because I’ve never reallyyearnedto touch anyone.

He’s not alone in this. It was both of our choice to sneak him here. Guilt swims through me all the same. I waver uneasily by the doorframe. “Can I explain…I want to apologize to Daisy too…?”Don’t cry, Willow. I push back tears and emotion. But I feel horrible for causing her distress. For her thinking there was an intruder in the house, something that I know ramps up her panic.

This was supposed to be a safe place.

Thankfully, Rose nods. “Follow me.”

We leave and find Lily and Daisy in Maximoff’s room. Lily bends over the crib with a rattle, softly talking to the giggling baby. Daisy lies on the ground, her white husky curled up against her. She strokes her fur in long waves.

Rose shuts the door behind me, and Lily asks, “Is everyone okay?”

“Mostly,” Rose says, then plants her gaze on me.

“I’m so sorry,” I begin, water pooling in my eyes. Daisy lifts her head off Coconut’s fur, confusion pleating her brows. And I just burst forth like a geyser. The truth flooding the bedroom floor.

I can’t stop.

Not until I’ve outlined, in detail, how I smuggled Garrison to the lake house. Why he needed a place to stay in the first place, which means divulging the truth about him flunking out of Faust. By the time I finish the story, my eyes have glued to the ground, unable to stare them in the eyes.

“And I don’t deserve your forgiveness,” I add quickly. “Especially you, Daisy. So if you’d like Garrison and me to leave the lake house, I understand—”

“What, no,” Daisy cuts me off abruptly. “I don’t want that.”

My heart thrashes, and I risk a glance. Daisy’s on her feet, light touching her green eyes. She…she doesn’t seem mad?

“You’re not mad?”

She shakes her head. “You snuck a boy into a trunk of a car.”

“Classic Gryffindor,” Lily says under her breath.

Daisy continues, “Youblindfoldedhim and took his phone just so thatwe”—she twirls her finger between her sisters—“could stay safe. Why would we be mad about that?”

I wipe at the corners of my eyes. “Because I should have told all of you.”

“You’re not the first person here to keep secrets,” Lily says, rocking on the balls of her feet. “You fit right in.”

Rose sends Lily a look. “Yes, but let’s not make secrets a regular occurrence.”

“Agreed,” Lily nods.

Pressure lifts off my chest. “So Garrison can stay?” I ask.

Daisy plops on the edge of the bed. “He just spent twelve hours in aduffelbag.” Her eyes ping to Rose. “You can’t kick him out now.”

Rose scoffs. “Why are you directing that to me? I agree wholeheartedly. He’s earned his spot here.”

Lily frowns like she’s lost in thought. “How did he survive in that duffel bag anyway?” Before I can answer, she swings her head to me. “He must really like you.”

Daisy crosses her legs and puts her chin to her fist. “Yes, let’s talk about the one-and-only Garrison Abbey.”

Oh no. “We’re just friends,” I reiterate. I feel like I’m probably going to be doing this for a while.

Lily squints. “You’re going to prom with Declan, right?”

“Who’s Declan?” Rose wonders accusingly, like she’s a little perturbed she hasn’t been told all the details. I like that she wants to hear about my life.

“He’s a boy,” I answer. “He’s a regular customer at Superheroes & Scones.”