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I sit and start removing boxes from the bag.

Elias sits after getting us each a sparkling water and utensils.

For a moment, there’s comfortable silence, and I’m so thankful.

There’s no oppressive feeling like at the estate; no bumps in the night; no haunted Kyrin or worry niggling at my brain.

We merely eat and enjoy one another’s company, which is so refreshing after the few weeks that I’ve had.

“So, you’re not enjoying your time at Ironwood, huh?” he asks.

“I didn’t say that.”

“You didn’t have to. You know, when I lived there…”

“When did you live there?”

“Most of my life.”

This is news to me.

I knew Kyrin said Elias was an old friend who came to town often and that they have lunch once a year, but that was all he gave me.

“My mom used to be the head housekeeper, back when the home was… a home. Back when there was a staff and things weren’t falling apart.”

“Why did you leave?”

“The same reason you’re not sleeping, I suspect.”

The heaviness his words stir settles on the table, and I sit back in my chair, suddenly not hungry.

“You can…” He clears his throat and takes a drink of his seltzer, clearly uncomfortable, almost like he didn’t want to do any of this today. Did I misread his aloofness as respect? “You can stay here if you want. I have a spare room. My sub… My friend, I mean, Cheryl, might’ve left clothes here.”

His sub?

I swallow, ready to escape back to the estate’s dim reality now that I’m seeing Elias in a new light.

“No, thank you. I appreciate the offer”—not really—“but I’d like it if you took me back now.”

He nods, packing up the leftovers before he leads me to the car once again.

This time, the car ride is entirely silent, and it’s anything but comfortable.

When we arrive, I meet Kyrin as he heads toward the porch.

“Hey, guys.” His tone is strange as he looks between the two of us. I should’ve known that when things happened between Kyrin and me, going with Elias wasn’t a good idea, but I wanted to get away.

“Hey, man. I took her for a little escape from the house, but I gotta get back. Can you see her inside?” Elias says, his tone sounding utterly exhausted.

“Yeah, sure,” Kyrin says, sighing as if he’s… disappointed?

No, that can’t be right.

“I can walk myself. I’m pretty capable, actually.”

“Nonsense,” Kyrin says, offering me his arm as we walk the ten steps to the front door.

I oblige, clutching the box of leftover Chinese food Elias gave me to take back in my other hand.