Page 139 of Sinners Reunion

I walk past them. I go until I can no longer make out the faces sitting around the table. When I’m sure no one is watching, I slip into the woods.

I don’t know what my plan is or what the fuck I think I’m doing, but I just couldn’t sit there anymore, listening to them kill him with their words.

When I was a little girl and the world got too big and too scary, I’d walk into the woods and pretend I could communicate with the animals. I’d tell my raccoon army to prepare to break me out of there. I’d ready the squirrels to strike at sunrise. My hands took up stick swords, and I prepared to hurt my parents in the ways I watched them hurt animals.

And I can only hope Bennett and Aven do the same thing I did after that, which was go home, have supper with my shitty parents, and go to bed. Because they can’t kill King. They just . . . can’t.

Deep in the shadows, I sit on a downed tree and allow myself a deep breath. Tucked away from prying eyes, I let a few tears fall. It’s so unfair that I finally convinced him I was worth keeping around, but now he’s going somewhere I can’t follow. When he leaves me this time, there will be no more chances. The five years I pined for him will be laughable in comparison to what I’ll soon endure.

Leaves crunch underfoot nearby, and I hurry to swipe the tears away before someone sees. I worry Blayne has tracked my location yet again, but I’m relieved when Eve breaks through the brush a few feet away.

“Over here,” I say with a wave, and she jerks her head and places her hand on her chest.

“Scared the shit out of me,” she whispers. “What are you doing in the dark all by yourself? I saw you headed this way, so I figured I’d come check on you.”

I glance around. “Did anyone else notice?”

“No, but why are you worried about that?” She cocks her hip and places her hand there. “Do we have a shitbag in our midst? Because I’m itching to kill, honey. Just point me in the right direction.”

Blayne’s warning blares in my head. King still has a chance, and I can’t fuck this up.

“No, nothing like that. I just . . . With everything happening tomorrow, I’m just nervous for everyone.”

Eve comes closer. She folds her arms over her chest and studies me. “You sure that’s all this is? My bullshit-o-meter is wiggling a bit.”

I hate lying to her. But I have to.

“I’m sure, Eve.” I pat the tree. “Want to take a seat?”

She shakes her head. “Nah, I can see that you need to think. I just wanted to check on you, that’s all. Just know that if you need to talk, I’m happy to listen.”

“Thanks. It means a lot.”

“Don’t mention it.” She starts to walk away, then stops. “And don’t sweat tomorrow. Aven and Bennett have something special up their sleeves for when they meet their dad. They’ll make him regret missing out on their lives. Then everyone can start to heal. Trust me, okay?”

Yeah, that’s what I’m fucking afraid of.

But I just nod, and she walks away.

I’ve barely had time to start crying again when more footsteps approach. Can’t a girl prematurely grieve her boyfriend in peace? I’m about to swipe my tears away and just give up when Blayne steps into the clearing. The white-hot rage is enough to dry my tears right up.

“What the fuck do you want?” I whisper.

He strolls closer and kicks a rock close to my log. It skitters deeper into the woods. “When did you plan to tell me that Jim moved the days around?”

“Never.”

“Oh, that’s not nice. That’s not nice at all.” He comes close enough that I can smell the barbecue sauce he must have spilled on his shirt. His fingers land under my chin, and he tries to raise my face, but I pull away from him. “Maybe I don’t want to give you more time with him after all. Maybe I should just go tell everyone now.”

“What is your fucking problem?” I don’t look at him when I speak. I won’t give him the satisfaction.

“You’ll know soon enough.” He shrugs. “Right now, I’ve decided to have a little change in plans. I want you to hurt him. I want him to know you’ll be mine before he’s dead.”

“I won’t.” I stand and look at him now. He needs to see the truth in my eyes. “You can have me after he’s told his children who he is, and not a second before.”

“I’ll have you right now if I want you.”

He grabs my hair and pulls me toward his face. Panic rises like a blaze in my abdomen, consuming my extremities until I’m sure I’ll combust right here.