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“What?” Jen twists her head to frown at me, then follows me around the side of the farmhouse.
When we get under the window she pointed out to me when she told me about the crows that attacked her, I look up to see the window closed, but a big black bird perched on the gutter above.
“Looks like they got the crows out,” I say, then drop the plate on the ground.
“What are you doing?” Jen hisses, eyes darting to the bird as she clings to my arm. “They’ll never leave if you feed them.”
I put my arm around her—can’t help myself—and tug her against me as I back up.
The bird on the roof looks at us, then down at the plate, and swoops down to inspect. Pretty soon, there are four crows around the plate, pecking at my offering.
“Fallon, that wasn’t a good idea. They’ll stay now and attack everyone until they get fed!”
I grin. “Or they’ll become our friends and apologize for putting those scratches on your hands.”
Jen glances at me and frowns.
I can’t quite hide my smile. I love it when she looks at me like that—like I’m some problem that needs to be solved. Like if she only thinks hard enough, she’ll be able to figure me out.
She might be right about feeding the crows. But as soon as Jen glances at the birds and her lips twitch at the corners, I know I’d do it a hundred times over just to see her smile.
Then my phone buzzes in my pocket, and I pull away from Jen to see my baby sister’s name light up my screen. Swiping to answer, I put the phone to my ear. “Nora?”
“Fallon, I need help.” My sister sniffles, and I freeze.
Jen notices and looks at me, doing that puzzle-solving frown of hers again.
“What’s wrong?” I start walking toward the guesthouse cabin, if only to start moving. I don’t like the sound of my sister’s voice. Not one bit.
“Slim is out of prison. He showed up at my house to ask about you.”
Those words hammer a spike of fear in my chest. Harvey “Slim” Miller was my best friend at seventeen years old. He’s also the guy who ruined my life.
I grip the phone so hard I’m worried I’ll crack the screen. “What do you mean? How did he know where you live?”
“I don’t know. Someone must have followed me.” She sniffles. “You need to talk to him, Fallon. He’s been to my house three times already. I don’t feel safe.”
Here it is. My past, rearing its ugly head. That shadow I can’t quite shake.
The man who put that tattoo on my back is harassing my sister. I’m the one who brought that sack of garbage around my family. I’m the one who put her in danger. All those shapes I saw in the trees? They were probably Slim’s cronies looking for me.
I’m halfway to the guesthouse now, with Jen hurrying by my side. She hasn’t said a word, but I know she’s listening. Usually I’d be pulling away from everyone around. I’d be lowering my voice so no one can hear. But Jen slides her hand into mine, and I slow my gait so she can walk comfortably.
I want her beside me—but will she be in the same position as Nora? Am I poison to everyone around me?
Taking a deep breath, I turn my attention back to my sister. “I can’t leave right now, Nora. Not for another three weeks. Can you find somewhere else to stay?” We’ve made it to the door and Jen hurries ahead to unlock it. I close my eyes and lean against the wall. “I can send you money, Nora, but I don’t have an apartment of my own anymore. I’ve got nowhere for you to crash. I can book a hotel for you for a few nights? Give us time to figure something out?”
“She can stay at my place,” Jen cuts in. “Whoever Nora is, I can meet her in town and give her the keys. When do you need them?”
The woman has no idea who I’m talking to, and she’s already rifling through her bag to find her keys. She pulls them out and holds them in her cupped hands like an offering.
“One sec,” I tell my sister, then put my hand over the mouthpiece. “Jen, it’s okay. You don’t have to do that. It’s my sister. She’s just… There’s a guy…” I drift off.
Jen lives in a world of surgeons and CEOs. A world where bad croissants are the worst part of her day. This is… The shit I’m potentially bringing to her doorstep isn’t even in the same universe.
But this is my sister.
“I’ll send Nora some money right away, book her a hotel, and call her when she’s calmer.”
