I finish my hot chocolate and head home, my mother’s words echoing in my head. Maybe giving Alice space is the right thing to do.
But as I sit in my empty house, studying for an exam that might not even matter anymore, the pages blurring together because I can't stop thinking about Alice, I can't shake the feeling that space is the last thing we need right now.
Alice is doing exactly what her mother wants—pushing me away, isolating herself, taking the blame for everyone else’s choices.
If Tracy Campbell thinks she can drive a wedge between me and Alice, she's got another thing coming.
I just need to figure out how to reach Alice before she pushes me away completely.
Chapter 27
Alice
I’mlockingupmyhouse when Sawyer’s truck pulls into my driveway. Gravel crunches under his tires. My heart jumps, but not in the good way it used to. Now it’s more like panic. My keys slip in my hand.
I've been avoiding him for almost a week, and I thought I was doing a decent job of it. Apparently not decent enough. I'd still reply so he wouldn't think I was completely ignoring him.Guys don't notice short answers, right?
He gets out of his truck and walks toward me, still in his uniform from his shift. “Going somewhere?”
“Madison’s. We’re having dinner.” The lie comes easily.
Madison is actually working late at a craft fair, but Sawyer doesn’t need to know that. I was just going to drive around to clear my head.
“Cancel it.”
“Excuse me?”
“Cancel it,” he repeats, stepping closer. “We need to talk.”
“About what?”
Sawyer gives me a look that says he knows exactly what games I’m playing. “About why you’ve been avoiding me for the past week.”
“I haven’t been avoiding you.”
“Really? Because you’ve been giving me one-word answers for the past week. And yesterday when I asked about lunch, you said you were swamped at work. But Nora told me you took a vacation day.”
Damn it. Heat crawls up my neck. I adjust my glasses. I forgot how observant cops are supposed to be. I thought I was being smart by still answering his texts, even if they were short responses.
“I wasn’t avoiding you. I just needed some space.”
“Space from what?”
“From this.” I gesture between us. “From whatever this is.”
Something flickers across his face that might be hurt, but it’s gone too quickly for me to be sure. "What do you think this is?"
"I don't know... a mistake?"
The word hangs in the air between us, and I immediately want to take it back. My stomach drops. But it's too late now.What is wrong with me? This is far from a mistake.
"A mistake," he repeats slowly. His jaw tightens.
“Yes. Look at what’s happening because of me. My mother filed a complaint against you, Sawyer. You could get in trouble because of me.”
“You think running away will fix that?”
“I think staying away from me will keep you from getting hurt.”
