Page 72 of All Your Pucking Secrets

Maybe there was another way I could have done it, but I panicked and went for the first option I could think of to push Echo away.

“Dad found out,” I tell her.

Her eyes soften, and sympathy flickers in them. “How bad was it?”

I swallow. “Bad.”

So bad I felt trapped into a corner. I did what little I could to fight my way out, and now I have to live with the consequences.

Soraya rubs my arm and then lowers her hand to her side. “It must have been, because you just ruined something that could have made you happy.”

18

ECHO

My nerves jangle as I let myself into the building Tyler lives in and head for the stairs. Soraya gave me his address and told me he occupies the third floor. When I woke this morning, I felt like I needed to see him in person, but now that I’m here, I can’t help wondering what drove me to come.

I don’t have a plan—or at least, not much of one. I just want to know why he did what he did when he broke us, and I think I’m finally ready to listen. Perhaps learning the reason for his actions won’t change anything, but it might provide a sense of closure I’ve never had.

I take the steps up quickly, so I won’t have time to overthink my decision. When I reach the third floor, I stop at the door and knock. I don’t hear anything on the other side. Maybe Tyler isn’t home. Or maybe he has good soundproofing. I sigh and scrub my hand down my face. At this point, I’m just looking for an excuse to escape.

The door swings open, and Tyler is standing on the other side, wearing soft gray sweatpants that mold to his thick thighs and a faded T-shirt with the Princeton logo printed on the front.

His eyebrows knit together. “Echo, what are you doing here?”

“I came to talk.” I resist the urge to wrap my arms around myself. I’m not going to self-comfort in a visible way. It’s important that he not view me as a victim right now.

“Okay.” He opens the door wider and steps aside. As he does so, the collar of his shirt shifts, revealing a small moon on the end of the necklace he’s wearing.

My heart stutters. It’s the necklace I gave him all those years ago. He’s still wearing it, even though the metal has darkened slightly with age. I step past him, ignoring the thundering in my chest and the way my mind is whirling, trying to figure out what it means that he’s wearing my necklace.

The living area is open, and the scent of rice and cooking onions hangs in the air. I breathe it in and my head swims. I haven’t eaten yet today because I’ve been so nervous about this visit.

“How did you find me?” he asks, closing the door behind us. When he doesn’t lock it, a little of the tension releases from my shoulders. “Soraya.”

I nod, although it doesn’t seem like he needs the answer. Perhaps there are so few people who know where he lives that it’s obvious who spilled the beans.

“I’m cooking lunch,” he explains as he heads toward the adjoining kitchen. “It won’t take much longer.”

I glance at the clock. It’s late morning. Early for lunch, but not by much.

“Sorry, I should have thought about that before I turned up.” If I’d been brave enough to come when I first had the idea, rather than wasting the morning building up the courage to face him, I’d have had his undivided attention. Although, come to think of it, perhaps it’s best not to have his focus all on me.

“It’s fine.” His smile is almost shy. “Can I get you a drink while I finish this?”

“Just water, please.”

While he fills a glass, I take the opportunity to look around his apartment. It’s clear that his furniture is top-of-the-line, but it isn’t showy. The large gray sofa is made for comfort, and the color scheme is peaceful—all soft neutrals.

That said, the living area is by no means bland. That would be impossible when one of the walls is dominated by a massive painting of a night sky, featuring the faint gold arcs of shooting stars splashed across it. In the corner of the painting, a crescent moon overlooks it all.

“Do you like it?” Tyler asks.

I jolt, surprised by his voice. I was so taken in by the painting that I hadn’t realized he’d approached me.

“It’s beautiful,” I admit.

“I think so, too.”

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