Page 158 of When a Soul Cries

So I said them again, louder.

“That bitch always been fucking trouble.”

And I kept driving toward Pinehaven like I hadn't just spent the last ten miles wondering if Soleia had been telling me the truth all along.

I slammed another shirt into my suitcase and shoved it down with both hands.

“I’m ready to get the fuck out of here.”

The zipper on my bag was already fighting for its life, but I didn’t care. I grabbed a pair of jeans from the chair and stuffed those in too, then snatched my charger out of the wall so hard the block bounced against the baseboard.

I had been ready to leave three days ago.

Hell, I hadn’t wanted to come in the first place.

My aunt getting sick had been unexpected. Her dying had been even more unexpected. Then came the phone calls, funeral arrangements, family members arguing over who was supposed to do what, and finally this damn will everybody suddenly cared so much about.

Death had a funny way of making people who barely spoke act like family again.

I sighed hard through my nose and dragged my hand down my face.

I didn’t deal with most of my family for a reason.

Everybody had an opinion. Everybody remembered shit differently. Everybody wanted to whisper in corners and bring up old mess that had absolutely nothing to do with putting my aunt in the ground.

I was tired.

But none of that was what had been bothering me the most.

Sol was.

I stopped packing.

My hand remained wrapped around the strap of my toiletry bag while that same uncomfortable feeling settled in the pit of my stomach.

Something wasn’t right.

I knew that girl.

Maybe better than she knew herself sometimes.

Every time I called, she told me the same thing.

*I’m okay, Zari.*

*Everything’s fine.*

*Handle what you need to handle. Me and Halo are good.*

Bullshit.

I tossed the toiletry bag into my suitcase and reached for my phone on the bed.

I had almost called her again when the screen lit up.

**UNKNOWN CALLER.**

My eyebrows pulled together.