If I were gone, Mom and Derek would have to work together to find me.
They’d have to talk. Really talk. Not just avoid each other or whatever they’d been doing.
“I have an idea,” I said slowly.
Cami looked at me. “What kind of idea?”
“I could run away. Like, go somewhere they can’t find me for a little while.”
“What?” Cami’s voice went up really high. “Frankie, that’s crazy.”
“No, listen.” I turned to face her. “If I’m missing, Mom will freak out. She’ll need help finding me. And Derek, he’ll help. I know he will.”
“So they’ll have to work together,” Nox said.
“Exactly.” I was excited now. This could actually work. “And while they’re looking for me, they’ll have to talk. They’ll have to figure out whatever’s going on between them.”
“Or they’ll just call the cops, and you’ll get in huge trouble,” Cami said.
“Not if I come back before it gets that far.”
Cami shook her head. “This is a terrible idea. What if something happens to you? What if you get hurt or lost or—”
“I won’t. Nox knows all the good hiding spots, right?”
Nox nodded. “I know just the place.”
“Where?” Cami asked.
Nox shook his head. “Can’t tell you, you’ll crack.”
“What do you mean, I’ll crack?” I smiled at how offended Cami sounded.
“Maggie will ask you where she is, demand you tell her, and you’ll crack like a nut,” Nox insisted. “If you don’t know, you can’t tell them.”
Cami narrowed her eyes at her brother, then turned to me. “Your mom is going to kill you.”
I hugged the bunny tighter. “It’ll be worth it. Because she’ll have Derek. And he’ll have her. And maybe they’ll finally figure out that they’re supposed to be together. That we’re supposed to be a family.”
“We already tried this once,” Cami pointed out, “and Derek stormed out of the diner pissed off.”
“Mom told him what Richard did to me,” I said quietly. “He beat Richard up.”
I closed my eyes, not wanting to think about what Mom said. About Derek hurting Sam. I knew what he did to Richard, and I couldn’t believe he would hurt Sam like that. There had to be an explanation.
Cami bit her lip. She looked as if she wanted to argue more but didn’t know what to say.
“You really think this will work?” she asked quietly.
“I have to try.” My voice cracked a little. “Mom’s been so sad for so long. And Derek, he looks at her like she’s the only person in the world. Like he’d do anything for her.”
They loved each other. I knew they did.
They just needed help seeing it.
“When are you going to do it?” Nox asked.
“Tonight. After everyone goes to bed.”
