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The arrest thing (how we officially refer to it) should be one of them—another thing I still don’t have a proper explanation about. Jess doesn’t need to know about that, though, same as the break-in. I don’t think Casper would ever let me get a criminal record, but that’s so not the point.
The police still haven’t been in contact. My parents move around so it might not be that easy to track them down and figure out if they were the ones who broke in.
Not much we can do.
I shrug. “There’s nothing I can think of, but there must be a reason why I want to run from him. Why we run from each other. It shouldn’t be instinct to run, should it?”
She pats my arm and makes that face like she’s about to tell me something I might not want to hear. “Darling, you two didn’t have a great start. Your old… dislike, if you’re still set on calling it that, is why you’re scared. You want a solid foundation: friends first, then more. Do you think you could be scared because at first he didn’t like you, and you’re worried he could go back to that? After all…”
Here it comes. I hold my breath, knowing this isn’t going to be fun.
“… Your mum was supposed to love you, and she left. How is someone who doesn’t have to love you supposed to stay?”
There it is.
I curl into myself, the sting of her words piercing through my skin.
“Oh, darling, I didn’t mean to hurt you.”
“You’ve never hurt me. You and Uncle Bill are the only people I can rely on.”
“It’s okay if you want to add Casper to that list. You can bring him home and invite him to family events. I’ll even forbid your uncle from making any jokes about his name.”
I laugh and wipe a stupid tear that sneaks its way out of my eye. “I’m sure he’s already heard all the jokes, anyway.”
Someone rings the doorbell, and Jess gets up to answer it. “Probably Amazon again. You need to ask yourself if he is someone you could fall in love with. Is he worth all of this?”
“I… Yes,” I breathe. There’s no point lying to myself anymore. Whatever this is between us, it’s worth figuring out.
“Then, I think you have a phone call to make while I get the door.”
I start to shake my head, but she cuts off any bullshit excuse I’m about to give as she’s walking by.
“A relationship is scary and a risk, but if you’re as sure about him as I think you are, it’s going to be so worth it. From what you’ve told me about him, I don’t think he’ll give up, either.”
She opens the door, and I can just about see her still.
“It’s not Casper who’s the problem here!” I call.
“Glad to hear it.”
Fuck.
I do a double take as Casper’s rough voice tears through the room. He comes into view, standing next to a very smug looking Aunt Jess like he’s been here a thousand times before.
In his hand is my sunflower.
Oh, my God. He’s here. In my home.
He came for me.
“What are you doing here?” I ask, heat spreading throughout my body.
Smirking, his eyes light up. “I missed you, too.”
“How did you find me?”
“Imani. I didn’t even have to bribe her.”
