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“Can we go up?”
“Would you like to?” he asked, surprised by my request.
“Obviously.”
He gestured toward the five wooden planks nailed into the tree trunk. I climbed up first, pushing on the trap door at the base of the house and folding it over. I climbed inside. The enormous tree trunk grew through the center of the treehouse. I spun around, taking in all the cool features they’d built. Seren joined me inside and watched as I admired the layout. Glass windows were on two of the walls. Benches were nailed around all four walls. One windowless wall had old pictures tacked to it.
I glanced to Seren standing across the treehouse. “This is the coolest thing I’ve ever seen.”
He nodded, agreeing with my appraisal.
I moved to the wall of photos, examining them closely. All three boys and their dad were in them. They were so young and innocent. So happy. A knot twisted in my stomach seeing their smiling faces. I was in their shoes. And, those authentic smiles disappeared with the death of a parent. Sure, they were replaced at times with forced smiles and fake happiness, but the authentic ones were gone forever. “I wish I had a cool place like this when I was younger.”
“Yeah. We were lucky my dad knew a thing or two about construction.”
“And technology?” I said, knowing Grayson Industries was a tech company.
“Yeah, his company’s cutting edge.”
I turned slowly and met his gaze. “I’m sorry you lost him.”
“We thought he was a racehorse. Turns out even racehorses can fall.” He was quiet for a moment before he added, “I’m sorry you lost yours.”
I pulled in a silent breath, unprepared for kindness of any sort coming from Seren. Why had he taken me to this place that held memories for him? I turned back to the wall of photos. Sawyer had been so small. And, Seren had always been broad. And their eyes. Those green eyes were so otherworldly.
“If you ever need to get away, you can come up here,” he offered.
“I won’t need to get away if you stop giving me reasons to,” I said.
He didn’t respond, so I glanced over my shoulder at him.
Coldness had overtaken his eyes. “I had nothing to do with any of that stuff at school.”
I turned to face him. “Bullshit.”
“I’m serious. I knew something would happen because you’re new—and since girls are jealous that you’re living here, but I didn’t do any of it.”
“Prove it.”
“How would you like me to do that? All I have is my word.” There was honesty in his response that Ialmostbelieved.
“Then, whatdidyou do?”
He dragged his teeth over his bottom lip, likely considering if he should fess up or not. “Let the air out of your tires.”
“Why?”
He shook his head, averting my eyes. “It was stupid.”
“Why, Seren?” I demanded. “What would you gain from flattening my tires?”
He was quiet for a moment. Then, his eyes cut to mine. “You’d need me.”
My head flinched back. “Need you?”
He cocked his head, his eyes trying to convey something I just couldn’t understand. “I would’ve gotten to spend time with you,” he admitted, his words coming out pained as if he hated hearing himself say it aloud.
“But you hate me,” I said, completely confused by what he’d revealed.
