ouldn't

somehow calm the storm inside her chest. Jason's face lingered in her mind - the way he looked

elt like a cage tonight. The soft hum of traffic outside the window, the distant ba

creak of the sta

was low and tired, coming fr

om step before answering.

tea in her hands. Her robe was wrapped tightly around her, hai

ly, nodding to the c

t new it had grown over the years, like ivy creeping across their r

"You've been quiet latel

chipped nail polish. "I

..." Her mom paus

ad snapped

nday. And how he looked at you." Her m

th, then shut it. Wh

ou know how his father and your dad used

ed. "But that doesn't

warm over Emily's. "Sometimes history rep

k gently. "Or maybe we ca

ching like a thread. Eventually, Emily stood, ki

d for her phone. A message f

so

u u

humbs moved before she co

il

Can't

so

e could talk

screen for a secon

il

et. Tomor

s a paus

so

u s

il

han any

ext E

ed to ride bikes as kids. The grass was longer now, untamed, and th

ainst his truck, hands in his pocke

he said

she r

ed. It was strange, how different he seemed out here

night," Jason said finally

didn't say anything I ha

"Then why does it

reath. "Because

them shifted - thicker now, charged. He reache

families think," he s

pounding. "But what hap

e said simply. "And we

ot because she didn't believ

t his chest. His arms wrapped around her like a

e, Emily knew the road

oss

Jason's father stared out t

the receiver. "I saw th

pa

st a crush anymo

use. His j

rything we've built just bec