“Is pinchy even a word?”
“If it’s not, it should be. And don’t think I don’t know you avoided my question. I know you’re nervous about what I have planned, and you totally should be. Behold.” Over the hill, she pointed to— A moan slipped from me. Reeve sat on a bench, Ethan beside her. The two were talking and laughing, happy to be together.
“You have to face her sometime,” Kat said sternly.
“She has no interest in a reunion,” I whispered.
“Only because her dad told her you hated living with them and had demanded your own space.”
He’d what?
Well, that altered things, didn’t it? I marched forward, determined.
“—you will love her,” she was saying. “Everyone does. Just ask her yourself,” she added with an affectionate chuckle.
Ethan glanced up, saw me and stiffened. “Can I help you?”
I ignored him, saying, “Hey, Reeve.”
She twisted to look up at me and flinched. “Ali,” she said with a reluctant nod. Then, as Kat moved up beside me, “Kat. You were supposed to come alone.”
Kat shrugged. “I’m supposed to do a lot of things. That doesn’t mean I do them.”
Ethan stood. I was five-ten, and he was a few inches taller than me. His hair was disheveled from the breeze, and his features now closed off.
He held out his hand to shake. “I’m Ethan. It’s nice to meet you.”
His grip was weak, as if he was afraid he’d break me if he squeezed too hard. “You, too. I’m Ali.”
He turned to Kat, shook her hand, as well. “Reeve’s told me so much about you guys,” he said as he sat back down.
Kat claimed the spot next to him, but I remained standing, suspecting Reeve would throw a fit if I encroached. “Look, I’m sorry I moved out without saying goodbye.” I hated doing this in front of a guy I didn’t know, but I wasn’t sure when I’d have another opportunity. “And I didn’t move out to get away from you. I loved living with you.”
Dark fire snapped to life in her eyes. “Are you calling my father a liar?”
Yes! “I’m saying he was protecting you from the truth.”
“And just what, exactly, is the truth?”
Ethan’s attention zinged between us.
I remained silent. There were some things I still couldn’t share.
“Of course. More secrets,” she muttered, the fire in her dark eyes replaced by hurt. She looked at Ethan. “Do you see? This is what I have to deal with every day.” She gathered her purse and stood. “Let’s go, Ethan.”
Stay calm. “Please, don’t go.”
Ethan reached out and tugged the lapels of Reeve’s jacket closer, a total boyfriend move. “She’s your friend, sweetheart. I’ve had to hold you while you’ve cried about her. Stay and hear her out.”
The support surprised me.
“Hey, Eth—you don’t mind if I call you Eth, do you?” Kat asked. “Why don’t you escort me to the pond? I want to see the ducks, but I’ll need someone to throw in their path if they turn violent.”
He looked at Reeve, then looked at me. Reeve, me. As if he was considering every possible thing that could go wrong, and wanted to take measures to prevent it. Finally he nodded. “It would be my pleasure,” he said and offered his arm.
The two strode away, and Ethan only glanced back twice to check on his girlfriend.
Sighing, I took his seat and removed the bag from around my shoulder and waist. “Look, Reeve. I moved out because...I’m sick. Really, really sick, and I have these violent episodes.... We don’t know a lot about what’s going on, and your dad wants you safe. I want you safe. It’s not contagious, or anything like that, but...it’s just better this way.”
Her features immediately softened, and she eased beside me. “Oh, Ali. I had no idea. I’m so sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too.”