Page 157 of Dare To Fall

“Sit down, Eli.” My dad waves to a second chair and skirts around the desk to sit.

I flop heavily onto the seat he indicated and stretch my legs out in front of me. “I got a text from Kellan asking me to meet him …”

***

I step out of the study, pulling the door closed behind me. A quick glance up and down the hallway tells me no one is around. My shoulders sag, and I lean against the wall and close my eyes.

I managed to keep it together through the whole interview with the detective, describing what I walked into, everything Evan said to me, and then discovering Kellan’s body. My eyes are burning, my throat is raw, and I want nothing more than to retreat to my room and crawl under the sheets to hide away.

But I can’t. Talking to the detective has reminded me that there are things I need to do. I suck in a deep breath, push away from the wall and open my eyes … just in time to see Arabella walk around the corner.

Fuck.

I haven’t seen her since the car ride back home.

She stops when she spots me, and we stare at each other. Her eyes are red rimmed, her face pale. I think she might have lost weight. She’s discarded the rebellious goth look she’s been using and reverted to her yoga pants and hoodie outfit. Her hair is up in a ponytail and her face is bare of makeup. Not that she ever needed makeup to look pretty.

“Eli.”

The anguish in her voice twists my stomach into knots. I can’t comfort her, not right now. Not when I can’t even comfort myself. I can’t smile and tell her everything will be okay. I can’t assure her that Evan will be found.

I can’t fucking do anything.

All I can do is lower my head and stride past her without speaking because, on top of everything else, I can’t bear to see the pity in her eyes when she looks at me.

Chapter 106

Arabella

Rawness stretches his features taut, and the pain I’m carrying inside me screams out in response. He looks pale. His eyes are hollow and empty. His hair is messy, and he’s lost weight in his face. The t-shirt and sweatpants he’s wearing are crumpled, and it doesn’t look as though he’s showered this morning.

I tried knocking on his door yesterday, but he didn’t answer.

“Eli.” I can barely get his name to leave my lips.

His head drops, and he walks past me without a word. It’s as though there’s an invisible shield around him, keeping everyone at bay.

I want to comfort him. Seek my own relief in his arms, but I don’t know how to reach him. We’re islands apart, and the gap between us is only growing.

My heart aches at the rejection. Touching the padlock hanging around my neck, I have to force my legs to keep moving forward. I knock on the study door and enter at the sound of Elliot’s voice.

“Ah, Arabella.” Elliot smiles. “This is Detective Parker. He has a few questions for you.”

“Okay.” I close the door behind me and take a seat. “Have you found Evan yet?”

The detective shakes his head. “No, ma’am.”

“It’s been days! Surely you must have some idea where he is?”

“His family hasn’t had any contact with him. He hasn’t gotten in touch with any of his friends—”

“Then you need to put more manpower into this,” Elliot cuts in. “Eli and Arabella might be eighteen, legal adults, but they’re still just kids. They need to feel safe.”

“We’re doing everything we can.” Detective Parker assures him, his tone level and calm. “Ma’am, I’d like you to tell me what happened when you reached the chapel.”

I’ve been trying not to think about it, and now he’s asking me to relive the nightmare all over again. I lower my gaze to the floor.

“If you need a moment, I can wait.”

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