“You loved her.”
“I did.”
The room went quiet.
Tarak swallowed.
“And I hated her,” he said. “And I grieved her. And I blamed her. And I forgave her some days. Then hated her again the next. None of that belongs on you.”
I couldn’t breathe around the ache in my chest.
“I didn’t tell you because I thought it would hurt you.”
Regan made a small sound.
Edge’s hand tightened.
“I know,” Tarak said. “That might be the bravest and dumbest thing you’ve ever done.”
A laugh broke out of me, cracked and watery.
Regan wiped my cheek. “He’s right.”
“I thought you’d blow up the school,” I whispered.
Edge’s eyes sharpened.
“I would not blow up a school.”
Regan stared at him.
Tarak stared at him.
I stared at him.
Edge sighed. “Not with kids in it.”
Regan pointed at him. “That is not better.”
I laughed again, and then immediately grabbed my ribs.
“Ow.”
“See?” Regan fussed, reaching for the blanket. “This is why we don’t make injured felons laugh.”
I looked at her.
Her face changed.
The word hit both of us at the same time.
Felon.
The fragile warmth snapped.
The door opened before either of us could pretend it hadn’t.
JD stepped inside.
