“Come on?—”
I tug.
It doesn’t give.
“Seriously?”
I yank harder.
Rip.
I freeze.
“…That’s fine. It’s fine.”
It’s not.
I finally make it to the back of the house, slightly out of breath, mildly injured, and definitely reconsidering my life choices.
I crouch near a window, then slowly lift up, peering inside.
Callie is in the kitchen, humming as she makes something that looks like iced coffee.
She’s alone.
I lean closer, looking for Violet.
No sign of her.
My foot catches on something—maybe a loose stone, maybe the universe personally deciding I’ve had enough dignity for one night.
I stumble.
Callie starts to turn, like she feels me watching.
“Shit—”
I try to catch myself but fail.
An odd screech rips from me as I stumble backward and fall… straight into a bush.
Branches scratch my arms and face.
My dignity is shredded.
I lie there, sweaty and bleeding, staring up at the sky and questioning every decision that led me here.
Please don’t come outside.
I’m scared to move, convinced the second I do, she’ll see me.
I hear Callie’s voice floating through the window.
“Weird. Probably just a bird,” she says. “Or maybe a squirrel shrieking about something.”
I clamp a hand over my mouth.
Oh my god.
