I didn’t want to let it go so easily.
I knew Ethan was trying to dodge the subject, to distract me with promises and plans, but Caleb’s name still lingered in my mind like an open wound. I couldn’t sleep, couldn’t heal, couldn’t think about anything else without knowing whether he was still alive.
“Don’t change the subject, Ethan,” I said, trying to keep my voice steady. “I want to know what you know about Caleb.”
He looked at me in silence. His eyes, dull as the sky before a storm, locked onto mine, and for a moment I thought I saw compassion—but also something darker, something I didn’t want to decipher.
“Nellie,” he finally said in a low tone, “I’ll tell you. But not now.”
“Why not now?” I pressed, forcing back the anger burning in my throat. “Why keep your secrets? What could poss
