Page 85 of Caught from Behind

Another tear escapes the confines of my lashes, drips down my cheek, the hot trail it leaves behind cooling almost instantly in the growing cold of evening.

I’ve cried too many tears today, and yet they show no sign of abating, of stopping.

Maybe I’ll dehydrate one drop at a time, turn into a withered husk of a woman destined to become dust on this snow and sand-covered beach.

Not dramatic at all.

I dash my hand across my cheeks and exhale.

At some point, I’m going to have to woman up and walk back to my car.

But this is not that moment.

I bring my knees up to my chest, curl my arms around them, and I study the sky, watching as the first couple of stars begin to appear overhead. I want to get lost in the vastness of space, in the fact that it’s so big when my life is so small.

But right now…all of this seems?—

Huge. Awful and giant and overpowering and?—

Huge.

I shake my head, eyes leaking again, distraction of the stars not enough to pull me out of my misery.

Especially when I hear footsteps crunching on the ground nearby.

Not wanting anyone to see me like this, I burrow deeper into my blanket, push myself further into my alcove, hoping the shadows will hide me.

But I know that’s a false hope the moment I see him.

Knox unerringly heads for my spot, dropping down beside me and tossing a blanket around my shoulders. “How long have you been out here, kid?”

“Not long enough for you to locate and replace my Barbie Dream House you ruined,” I quip.

Jokes.

Distraction.

Hide from the real problems at hand.

My brother just sighs, slings his arm around me, and I don’t realize I’m shivering until he starts rubbing his hands up and down my arms. “I thought it was your EMT Barbie ambulance that I ruined.”

Despite the knot in my stomach, I giggle. “Nope. It was my A-frame Dream House with a doorbell and elevator that you ruined.”

“In fairness, Mr. Hoppyness loved his time in the Dream House.”

“That he did,” I admit. “At least before he chewed that hole in the floor and the whole thing collapsed.”

Knox laughs, but only for a moment. Because then he’s freezing, head cocked as though listening. Then he cups my jaw, tilts my head up, stares deep into my eyes. “Don’t hate me,” he murmurs.

I frown, then hear what he must have already clocked.

The crunching of more footsteps.

My gaze slides from my brother’s, drifts over his shoulder, and?—

I sigh and slump against him. “You’ve really done it now.”

A hand on the back of my head, holding me tightly against him. “I already ordered your replacement A-frame Barbie Dream House, complete with a doorbell and elevator to make it up to you.”

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