Love next door

sed down on Maplewood l

d was holding its breath. Jane and Damien had grown used to this tension-the stares, t

it wasn't a phone call or spray-pain

as B

books at the libra

mile he always wore when he knew he held power. Blond hair slicked back, dressed in

lo,

eath c

ra

. "Didn't expect to find you still here. I th

ons to stay," she sai

arrowed. "

stif

talking. Even in Mon

her arms.

use I thought maybe we could talk. Yo

u ran from? The way you humili

ge. I was yo

were

was si

ou think he cares abo

"He sees me in a wa

ople like him don't sti

as. The rot be

you leave

our back. On both of you. I

need your

ut not before throwing one

I didn't

-

porch, legs pulled to her chest,

e back.

one of his records for a mix t

o reclaim some

ed slowly. "

r head. "Not

d down and came

se," she said quietly.

hand. "I'm not

. When it gets harder-because i

're the only thing that feels like home. I'm not going

, and Jane leaned into it li

eepened, the phone ins

n

ic

it. Then

rang

d and we

er, his voi

she's in the hospi

the doorway, h

at was my sister. My mom coll

God.

to go. T

-

r, he had pack

oaded it into the trunk. The a

ld come with

e the library mid-week. And... th

face

ed," he said quickly. "I

n explanation. Just

ed her

I'll be thin

e drov

the dark, and for the first time since they me

r..