away. She didn't wait for him to answer. She couldn't stand seeing he watched her cry

ll her name. That hurt to

ie, standing in front of the kitchen island with

pa

, sneakers, and the most impatient expression a twel

wn at himself.

wearing

ually a go

ven't done

hair. "What's

ryth

wrist. "Come o

n't fo

date

emem

s. "You're not going

iled.

pulled him tow

lost count of how many times Maya had told him that she was absolutely not scared of anything. Then sh

" she protested w

ourse

s because the

ious

eyes. "You're m

ev

u a

d him about school. About a teacher who gave too much homework. About her l

the big tree a

d at her.

e wanted to

urse s

rom one branc

nced.

mis

bad

dn't ge

sn't my

servant who caught

ed walkin

l be

ay

he laughed. "L

ehead. "That doesn

ed not to climb

oo

he smaller one

ed. "Of

ng. "Ethan got in tr

did

s that Father said he cou

. "Did Vanc

N

did Etha

ted to

d. "Of cou

." Maya's v

w that tone. "W

ed Father'

nked. "

d it wa

nd

ned som

t her. "What

Father looked

ath. "Those three are goi

er and louder over the years. She had never be

er step before noticing she wasn't besid

ha

somewher

wned. "

d her arms. "You

w

id I ju

s mouth. Noth

es narrow

led. "

n her expression sof

thi

pa

park suddenly felt very far

pulled away when he tried to touch her. The

you for fiv

ed. "I hur

es widene

. "Why do you sou

you're

nd

't hurt

le. "Sometimes you do

that. "Did you ma

ked dow

open. "You ma

n't me

n't make i

kno

r. "Then you hav

ave

nd

. "And she didn't

. "Then apol

You think it

es

hy

made me cry, I'd wa

softly. "You

're bein

n eyebrow.

y. You know you hurt you

settled somewhere he couldn't

e couldn't pre

kwood estate. She jumped out of the car befor

ye

nto the open wind

get

polog

ghed. "

e disappeared inside. Then he sat alone in th

bits. Her moods. Her fears. The way she pretended she didn't need an

ed the most important th

owly. Then he

g. Sam had parked nearby and decided to walk the

on a leash. She saw him at the same tim