Watching the slump in Julian’s shoulders and slight barely-there drag of his feet as he left, had me immediately and overwhelmingly worried. I quickly asked Veronica and Jessica to keep an eye on Elva, and hurried to follow him.
I came out into the hallway just to watch him slip back out onto the deck. I hurried that way, opened the door, and rushed through. I caught up to him at the base of the stairs from the deck to the beach.
“You can never leave well enough alone, can you, Piper?” he asked, but there was no real heat behind it. If anything, he seemed relieved to not be alone anymore.
“You know me,” I said with a playful shrug. “Always sticking my nose where it doesn’t belong.” I paused enough to let the playfulness pass. I wanted him to know I was serious when I added, “At least w
