Just leave him alone. I’ll do it. You made your point.
The reply comes almost instantly.
Eli
Let me know when it’s done.
I shove the phone into my jeans and push to my feet just as the door swings open and Mandy steps in, concern written all over her face.
“Are you alright? I saw you rush back here and wanted to check on you.”
“Yeah, I’m fine.” I drag in a breath and pull my shoulders back, tucking everything ugly away behind the same tired smile. “It was just…hard to see him.”
Which is the truth, just not all of it.
Her expression softens. “Are you sure putting distance between you two is the right thing here?”
“It is.” The answer comes out fast.
“I do think he wants you, Sloane.”
“It doesn’t matter. It would never work.”
She studies me like she wants to argue, but whatever she sees on my face must shut it down. I’m wrung out. There’s nothing in me.
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore, okay?”
“Okay. But I’m here for whatever you need. Always.”
Her arm comes around my shoulders and I let myself lean into it, just for a while.
“We should totally get shit-faced tonight,” she adds. “I think that might help you a little.”
A small laugh slips out of me. “You know I don’t drink.”
“Crap. I forgot. I’m so sorry.”
“It’s okay. Plus, I don’t think that would help anyway.”
“You’re right.” She shrugs. “Maybe you can come over and we can watch a movie or something, if you want. I have lots of snacks.”
Part of me feels like I’m using her for somewhere warm to crash, but the bigger part just doesn’t want to be alone with my thoughts tonight. And I do love being around her. She’s one of the only good things I’ve got.
“That sounds nice. Thanks, Mandy.”
“Of course.” She scrunches her face like it’s nothing. “You can even sleep over if you’d like. That way you don’t have to be around your nasty sister.”
The irony twists deep. I actuallywantto be at my sister’s, just to be closer to Milo.
But Mandy doesn’t know that. She doesn’t know the half of it.
She never will.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
KIRILL
After I dropLev off with Emilia, I’m back on the road, the truck eating up miles toward the Whitlocks’ home while my head is somewhere else entirely.
