Raiden:
Colt’s tail lights disappeared down the road like the end of a bad dream I couldn’t wake Ella Claire from. I didn’t move. Just sat there, holding her against my chest, feeling the way her body shook with silent sobs.
She’d cried herself damn near dry. Now all that was left were snuffy sniffles and that hollow ache between her ribs that I knew too well.
I didn’t speak. Didn’t rush her. I just let her fall apart in my arms, in the quiet, in the dark.
I texted Riot one-handed.
“Need you to come get the bike from the overlook. Leaving the keys in the tree hollow. Ella with me.”
Didn’t wait for the reply. I just dropped the key into the bark notch we always used, and soon enough, I saw his headlights crest the hill, slow down, pause, then vanish again.
Ella didn’t move. She just
