Page 23 of Unbroken

I nodded.

“Well, there’s no time like the present. Should we go to the living room?” She turned and asked the group.

They were all dumbfounded, shock replaced by confusion as Shelly acted like me showing up was a normal, everyday occurrence.

Each of them looked at the other, all of them participating in a silent conversation that was likely to decide if someone would kick me out.

Luke was fuming, Amanda looked stricken, and Devon was still straight-faced. None of them looked particularly happy, but none of them started yelling either.

After another tense second, Amanda looked at Hazel, who was still standing behind Luke. I couldn’t see Hazel, but whatever happened must have given Amanda the confirmation she was looking for.

She stepped forward and motioned down the hallway.

Shelly turned and smiled up at me before taking my hand and pulling me through the house.

Amanda’s home was beautiful. Decorated in a cozy, midcentury modern feel that matched the outside, it was exactly what I always imagined Amanda’s home to look like.

We passed the kitchen to the left with white countertops andwarm, medium-brown cabinetry that complimented the wood floors that ran the expanse of the home. On our way to the living room nestled at the back of the house, we walked by a short staircase to the right just as someone else was walking down.

It was another woman I didn’t recognize.

“Oh,” Shelly said, stopping when she also noticed the cute blond. “Blakely, this is Piper.”

Piper stopped on the bottom stair, and her jaw dropped. I didn’t know her, but she obviously knew of me. She didn’t let the shock dissuade her from sticking out her hand. I took it and shook it once.

“It’s nice to meet you,” she said in a sweet, soft tone.

“Same.” I hoped the word didn’t sound as forced as it felt.

Shelly tugged on my left hand, and we continued into the living room. She motioned for me to take a seat on the chair in the corner of the room where I could see everything else.

“Would you like something to drink, honey?”

“No, I’m fine. Thank you,” I said, taking in the beautiful architecture. The glass windows to my right looked out onto a backyard brimming with trees. I spotted Zach, Josh’s son, playing with Sadie, Luke’s dog, in the back corner. I smiled when he tossed the ball for her, and she bounded to get it. Inside, my eyes wandered around the room, and high above me, I noted the wooden beams running the length of the ceiling.

Everyone cautiously filed in as I continued to discreetly survey the space. Hushed voices carried in from the kitchen, which had to be Luke and Hazel since they were the only two missing.

Amanda, Josh, Reed, James, and the redhead all walked in, but my attention was fixed on the stairs.

Piper was talking quietly with Devon, who ran a hand down her right arm.

I held my breath as their conversation continued. Their closeness and the gesture were too intimate for them to only be friends. Although I wanted to, I couldn’t seem to look away. Shewas looking up at him with wide eyes, and I caught her stealing a glance or two in my direction.

I was spiraling, of that I was certain, when each breath felt harder to find than the last, and my jaw ached from grinding my teeth. I watched each of their movements—hand placement, their proximity, the way they leaned into each other—to try to identify their relationship.

Devon moved back and let Piper step down the final step.

“Mom, why don’t you and Piper head outside with Zach for a little bit?” he asked in an even voice that only barely belied his inner turmoil.

What?I whipped my head to the right and caught Shelly’s gaze. My expression must have reflected my internal panic. She had to stay. I needed her warmth and support.

She patted my shoulder and leaned down. In a voice so low only I could hear, she said, “You can do this. You can do anything, Blakely. They’ve been waiting for your story. So, tell them.”

Her words were kind, but I still wanted her to stay.

Piper walked around the couch and retrieved her coat from a hook near the door. Shelly met her there and grabbed hers, too. She gave me one final reassuring nod before they slipped outside.

When the door shut behind them, I continued watching the closed door until someone cleared their throat. And suddenly, I realized there were six sets of eyes staring back at me.

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