er mother felt like a storm had passedbut

voice echoing through the hallway, low and tense, talking on the phone. Every now and then, he paced, which was unlike him.

ck came at

door creaked open, and her yo

ission. He was seventeen, lanky, with a mess of curls and

half-smile. "

s in a mood. She didn't even yel

u," Emily

rious now. "What d

er head against the glass

a brow. "A

no

But mom looked like

sharply. "Wha

ne. She didn't see me. She said something like 'He's back. After all these yea

ened. He's back? Af

ime was

argued after. I couldn't hear everything, but Dad said, '

ared at

oks like you kicke

couldn't sit still anymor

ead. "You think J

er. Her mind wa

d talking the moment she walked in. Her father straightened up li

" Emily said, g

" her mother

d, challeng

er stood

nterrupted quiet

gry. Emily hesitated, then left before

under a car, legs sticking out, grease-stained

nannounced?" he calle

pite of herself

ce lit up, but it faded quickly when

the workbench. "Jason d

ffened

d-her mother's late-night call,

wn, wiping his

as

n't think it'd co

sank. "Bac

ain in his eyes. "Y

linked.

happened between them. Years ago. My dad worked in finan

eath caugh

d's company. Ca

Swore it to his deathbed. He disappeared a

in her chest. "My mo

was blacklisted. Lost everything. And he died

shaky. "Jason

" he said. "But now that I've met you

"My parents hid thi

here to hurt you. I care about you.

spinning. Her entire life her perfect fam

.. I ne

away, leaving Jason standing in the s