“And what about the year after that?”
Will shakes his head. “She doesn’t have that long. And if she does, I’ll figure something out.”
Owen exhales, heaviness in his shoulders. “I’m going to be there. When the police keep watch, I’ll stay with them. That’s non-negotiable.”
Will smiles and strokes Owen’s cheek. He’s not a fan of the idea, but he’s not going to treat him like a child who can’t make his own decisions. Partnership doesn’t work like that. “Okay.”
“When are you planning on going there?”
“This Friday.”
“So soon?”
“There’s no point giving the mayor time to try something. Nate will remain in custody until then; the sheriff knows not to trust him.”
“I have more questions, but they can wait. Let me feed my man.”
Will sits quietly as Owen puts together a meal with meat from Francie and some other things they were supposed to eat during the dinner that never happened.Will eats everything, then asks for more. He feels better once he’s done, but it’s getting late, and parts of his brain have already gone to sleep.
He follows Owen into his bedroom, where the bed is on the smaller side, but it’s not like they don’t usually sleep with their limbs tangled. Will remains in his underwear and slips under the blanket.
Owen shuts off the light and flicks on a small night lamp by the desk. He sits in a chair and takes out his sketchbook from a drawer. “Do you mind?”
“No, but I might drool.”
“I can draw liquid.”
Will chuckles. “Good night, Owen.”
“Good night, Will. You’re safe here.”
He wants to say that it is his job to keep Owen safe, but maybe it should work both ways.
He likes that thought.
Chapter 24
Will
“I haven’t been here in such a long time,” Julie says as they stop next to their mother’s gravestone.
“Are you sure you’re warm enough?”
“I’m fine, Will. Sit down and relax. You’ve been so tense lately.”
He sits on the grass while Julie sits in her wheelchair. It’s Friday morning, and later today, he’ll be going to the mayor’s house to do what he and the sheriff agreed on. A part of him worries this might be a trap, but at least in this war, he and the sheriff share a common enemy.
“What’s up with the hat?” Julie asks him.
“Bad hair day.” He put it on to cover the bump on his forehead from when Nate had smashed his head against his truck. It doesn’t look as bad as it did a few days ago, but it’s still a subject he doesn’t want to get into with his sister.
“I think about her a lot lately,” Julie says as she watches the simple gravestone. Their mother’s namewas Emily Thomas, and people used to say she was the prettiest girl in town. To Will, she was also the strongest, rivaled only by his sister.
“Why lately?” Will asks.
Julie sighs. Her skin is grayer than usual, and her pretty eyes are tired. “You know why.”
He doesn’t answer. He refuses to speak about death with her, not because he’s in denial, but because it will serve no purpose. He’ll have a lifetime without her, but not yet.
