doorknob, their expressions mirror

pered, almost cho

n there?" a voic

Jade barely caught her, then dashed into his room and sla

g her breathing to steady a

or swu

mile even though she still looked

ce. Her eyes were al

on her face, rubbing her face against the baby's cheeks dramatically. "Oh my sw

dly, waving her ti

building collapse, stood frozen. She stutt

my car has been bad. I finally got it fixed this morning a

t?" Jade managed, clutching the e

ow, I need something to eat," Mara announced, setting Harper down careful

toward the

dead in he

fuck, Jade?! Wh

the kitchen, The opened windows and the p

. Just... kit

long, suspicious look. She rolled up her sleeves

.. fried eggs and I forgot a pot of oil on the back burner. I was distracted for just a second playing with

urned the building down for fried eggs! Okay, well, let's get som

Jade whispered, rub

lcy of Mara's presence. Who was moving like the whole apartment be

f-key, and filling the air with the comfo

g silly animal sounds and jokes. The baby laughed so

ht there on the living room floor, as the co

id, scooping a large fork of mac and cheese. "

without sa

m dreading the family party. Since last year's o

wn. "can I tell you s

inked.

nd cheate

sank. "Mara..

an't let go... Our entire friend group knew. All of them. Acting like they loved m

ou didn't deserve that. and it sad t

... it just makes the rest of the friend group so weird. Everyone is choosing sides.

across to squeeze her friend's hand. "That's awful.

lways handled things. He always had solutions. I hate not knowin

't check his apartment?" Jade a

r renovation. We don't know where he went after that, and he isn't taking anyone's call... not even Mom's.

d. "Maybe he just

hed, eyes on Harper. "I

layed continued to every silly game she knew with Harper. Then she unpacked a pile o

udly. "I think I'll just sleep

re soul lef

I... I booked fumigation for tomorrow morn

hinking we can just order pizza and watch

Jade lied again without hesita

gering kiss, and walked toward the door. "I wish I could take

," Jade agreed, wal

r click

hit Jade l

to the door, then gathered herself and

ne," Jade

m to gather Harper, who was still happily batting at a toy

aby, the lock on Jace's door tw

ut he looked tired with his eyes dark, but the

his voice

n let h

e f

here," he added. "Just make sure to kee

d toward the kitchen, for

cond... then slowly set Harper down. Harper s

the kitchen with a gla

" he c

d her chi

real hesitation she'd seen

been had lying to y

mething dark and ungu

r dragging y

l your mum," Jade

. but n

are you

n't forget rule number four: do not

swer, Harper suddenl

rned in

rpe

at her. She was staring at

voice whi

D