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Maribel.

We stare at each other for a good long moment. “What are you staring at?”

She doesn’t respond, then continues down the hall that leads into the great room on the other side of the house. For whatever reason, my heart is pounding, and I only take in a breath once she’s gone.

I find her more unsettling than Lucy. I wonder what her story is, and how they came to work for the Vital family as if they are indentured. They must know the secrets of this house, and if that’s the case, then why does Talia let them live.

I motion to head back upstairs, but I stop in front of the doorway that leads down to Tommy’s room and glance toward the kitchen. What does Lucy know, anyway? And what is wrong with that old woman? Why doesn’t she speak?

I push open the door and head into the dark stairwell, descending into the darkness that lies beyond. I haven’t been down to his room since the first night when I hallucinated.

My feet sink into the soft, shaggy carpet when I get to the bottom, and I push through the beaded curtain. I look around, but the windowless space is dark, though there’s a distinct chill in the air. I stumble until I find the lamp I was enamored with the first night and click it on to warm it up. I then move to Tommy’s bed and flop down, glancing around the room under the soft light.

The scene is immediately familiar as I lay my head down, and an ache tightens within me, and I’m suddenly overcome with homesickness.

Home…he reminds me of home. Tommy is my home.

I miss him so much, even though I’m furious with him and I see him every day. I bury my face in his pillow, close my eyes, and the tears start flowing. Then I pass out.

DIDI

Hot breath tickles my ear, and my eyes snap open. I must have dozed off because he’s already curled up behind me. His lips brush my shoulder, on the skin just above my collarbone. “Hi, firefly.”

I sit up, getting my bearings, mortification settling in my stomach. He’s watching me with a smile playing on his lips. I have an urge to run my thumb over his cute mustache, but I sigh and lay my head back into the crook of his shoulder. “Hi, Tommy.”

He pulls me closer, his hand curling around my stomach. “What are you doing down here?”

I squeeze my eyes shut. “I must have fallen asleep. Sorry, I’ll go.” I try to wriggle away, but his hands are too big, and I’m too small to move beneath him, so I stop trying.

His body and hand relax once I release my tension.

I turn to face him, his boyish eyes staring down at me, his hair hanging in loose waves around his handsome face. Those big brown eyes make my heart flutter.

“Can I ask you a question, Didi?”

I blink at him and nod.

“Are you still my girlfriend?” he asks innocently. It’s a simple question but complicated on so many levels. It makes my heart hurt.

“Tommy…”

“Because I don’t remember breaking up.”

I press my lips together and cup his cheek. “You buried me inside a well. I’m pretty sure that’s the moment we broke up.”

“Well, technically, it wasn’t you.”

I blow out an exasperated breath. We’re quiet for a moment, just gazing into each other’s eyes, so much unspoken between us. His lips are so close, so tempting. Suddenly, it’s just us again, like those days in high school. An invisible pull connects us. I close my eyes and lose myself in him.

“If things were different, I would have given my entire life to you, Didi. I would have protected you from this and forced you out of town when I had the chance.”

A small sob escapes me. “I know,” I whisper, tracing my fingers along his sharp jawline. “I know you would have, Tommy.”

He gently strokes my forehead with his thumb. “It’s not too late. We could run away. Just you and me.”

I frown at him. “You don’t want that. You’d miss Talia and Remy too much. And I would, too.”

He sighs, running his hand along my side. “Yeah,” he admits. “You’re probably right. Is he…is he treating you right?”