Page 66 of Moving Forward

“What if Cain asked you to stay?” she asks timidly.

“Not even then. Not for now, at least.”

“Will you still visit?”

I almost laugh. “Yes, of course. You’re my best friend. It’d be sacrilegious not to see you.”

“Good.” She rolls onto her back. “I had a feeling you might change your mind. I don’t blame you. I think you’re making the right decision. You should be wherever you’ll be the happiest.”

“If my head didn’t hurt so bad, I’d hug you.”

“I’m going to be a better friend from now on,” she promises.

“I know you will.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-TWO

CAIN

Damn.

I’ve been found out.

And I’m pretty sure I look like a stalker.

I was in the process of backing out of the Millers’ driveway when Conner and Erin pulled in. I froze instead of getting the hell out of dodge, and now we’re staring at each other, me like a caught burglar and them like, well, like they’ve just seen Bigfoot in the Bermuda Triangle. Conner leans out his window and calls my name with just about the same amount of bewilderment I’m feeling.

I squeeze my eyes shut. Rub my temples. Shit. I was here to see Max, maybe not to talk to her but at least see her. I chickened out like a fucking coward. What a hell of a punishment got me.

“What’s he doing here?” Erin asks loudly, then leans into Conner’s lap so I’m in her line of vision. “What are you doing here? Are you here to see Maxie?”

I ignore the dreamy tone her voice just took. “No.”

“You were just in the neighborhood and decided to turn around in my in-laws’ driveway where Max happens to be staying?” Conner mocks.

“No,” I repeat. We all know why I’m here, there’s no need to pull the answer out of me. They just want to make me admit it out loud. Maybe ooh and ahh at their once-friend who’s come out of hiding for a girl. See the violent loner with no social ability in his unnatural habitat and all that.

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