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“I get that, but I just told you, it’s not like that.”

“And what I’m tellingyouis that I’ll believe that when I see it, but in the meantime; let’s be clear that when it comes to my sister, it’s hands first questions later. Y’all are grown, so I ain’t in the details and don’t wanna be. But the malicious shit? That’s DOA.”

“Unnecessary message received,” I told him, knowing he wouldn’t let it go until he thought he’d gotten through to me.

And it wasn’t that he hadn’t, I just didn’t need this shit.

“We’ll see,” Blue said as he walked off, fishing keys from his pocket. “Keira, come on, let’s go drop this shit off!” he called into the house, and a few moments later, she came bustling out, with a box in her hands. She loaded it up, and they peeled off, leaving me alone with Tati again.

It was strangely quiet.

Music had been playing when I’d arrived, but maybe whatever device she’d been using was packed away now, being prepared for the journey.

I discovered her tucked away in her workroom, holding the same rose carving that had been in her hands the last time I’d found her there.

“You good?” I asked, not stepping fully into the room, since the energy felt… different. There were boxes in here, but nothing seemed to be moved from where it had always been. Somewhere between when I’d split off to help Blue with the couch and now, something for her had shifted.

She tried to be discreet in drying her face with the back of her hands, but when she looked up, her eyes were glossy, contradicting the front it seemed she wanted to put forth.

“This is part of why I don’t wanna leave,” she said, her voice thick with emotion as she looked around the room, fingering a tiny crystal rose on a chain around her neck. “When I wanna feel close to Tali, this is where I come.”

I nodded because I understood, but at the same time… “This is just a room,” I told her, stepping in. “Your memories are what pull you close to her, not any four walls.”

“I know,” she agreed. “It’s just… itfeelslike I’m leaving her behind. She helped me pick this house. These shelves were in her room, some of these crystals… this was hers. Her thing. I just co-opted to feel close to her after she was gone.”

“So bring it with you,” I suggested. “What’s the problem; you need help breaking them down for transport or something? I can—”

“Oh my God,shut up,” she groaned and my eyes went wide, surprised. “I know how men think they need to shift to rescue mode every time a woman complains, but maybe… don’t.”

I held my hands up. “My bad. I just—”

“Wanted to fix it.” She nodded, clearly already understanding. “But there’s nothing to fix; I don’twantanything fixed,” she clarified. “Everybody wants me to be okay, to be ‘good’. But… I just want to feel.”

She wasn’t sad anymore; she was fuckingfrustrated.

Shit.

“Tell me how—tell me what you want me to do,” I said, catching myself early enough to not ask how I couldhelp, when she’d just made herself abundantly clear.

She stared at me for a second, then put the rose carving down on the table as she stood. “Brandon is gonna be pissed if I go anywhere alone. So can you take me somewhere?”

“Where do you need to go?” I asked. “And, we’d have to take one of your vehicles, I only have my bike.”

A smile curved the corners of her lips.

“I’ll give you the directions as we go. And your bike is fine.”

I could’ve said no.

Could’ve offered to ride next to her or even just insisted that we drive.

I didn’t do any of those though.

Five minutes later, we were flying down the highway, Tati’s arms tight around my waist as we maneuvered. Her idea of giving me directions was a subtle nudge with whatever hand matched the direction she wanted me to turn.

I was a bit confused when her navigation led us to the clubhouse.

But then, we rode right past it, no indication to turn down the long road that led toPredatorland. Instead, we kept going, further out than I’d been before, finally veering off just before I got a little concerned.

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