Page 64 of Unbroken

My eyes continued to take her in, dropping lower and eyeing the small peek of cleavage I could see behind her black shirt. Laughter surrounded me, and I jerked my eyes away before I had an unfortunatelyhardsituation at the dinner table.

She’d always gotten along well with my mom and sister, so I wasn’t sure why, when I glanced around and saw them all laughing, it hit me so hard. Sydney had told a story about her college roommate, and they had all descended into fitful laughter.

But when emotion began stirring in my chest at the sight, I realized why my reaction had changed. I never thought I’d see it again—Blakely laughing with my mom and sister. And everything that happened in the garage and everything I said and her response, it had all made me hope.

My mom got up from the table and walked into the kitchen to start doing dishes. Sydney was the second one to get up from the table, claiming she had to study. But she didn’t leave without hugging Blakely, who still sat in her chair and awkwardly squeezed the arm Sydney had slung around her neck.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” I heard Sydney whisper, and Blakely’s smile was paired with watery eyes.

Sydney disappeared down the back hallway toward the room we hadn’t touched since she went to college a few months before.

“I should probably get going,” Blakely said, standing with her plate. She went to reach for one of the large pizza pans, which was half empty, but I stopped her.

My hand landed on top of hers, and her eyes immediately jumped to mine. I watched as she sucked in a sharp intake of breath but didn’t move her hand. “I got it,” I said, and she heldmy gaze for a second longer before she nodded and walked into the kitchen with only her plate in hand.

“Thank you so much for dinner, Shelly,” Blakely said, wrapping her arms around my mom, who stood at the sink. “Are you sure you don’t want me to stay and help clean up?”

With a soap-covered hand, my mom waved her off. I dropped the pizza pans next to the sink and pulled a container from the cabinet for the leftovers.

“Oh, no. Get home. I know you have an early day tomorrow. I’ll have Sydney and Devon help me.”

“Okay, but tell me how your doctor’s appointments go.”

“I will.”

Blakely nodded, and I caught her glance over at me out of the corner of my eye. I didn’t want her to leave. Or at least I didn’t want her to leave without saying a proper goodbye and with the promise that I’d see her soon. We had planned a trip to Houston that weekend, so I could take my mom to a few doctor’s appointments. And if it weren’t for that, I would’ve invited her to stay. At least so we talk.

Blakely hesitated for a moment before walking around the bar and grabbing her bag from the barstool. I closed the container and opened the fridge, ready to follow her out, when she stopped in her tracks and turned back.

“Oh, Shelly, I forgot to thank you for dinner the other night.”

I stopped mid-motion with the fridge open and the container still in my hand.

“You mean dinner last week? When you were here?”

Slowly, I slid the leftovers onto the middle shelf of the fridge and closed the door.

“No, the chili a few days ago. The leftovers that…” Blakely’s words trailed off, and I turned just in time to see my mom shaking her head. Blakely’s confusion shifted to understanding as her eyes slid back to me. “I see. Anyway, thanks, Shelly. I’ll see you soon.”

Blakely turned on her heels and strode toward the door. It took me several seconds, but finally, my feet started moving.

“Where are you going?” my mom asked as I rounded the counter. She already knew the answer to her own question; I could hear it in her voice, so I didn’t stop to answer her. I jogged through the living room and yanked open the front door, only to stop on the edge of our small porch.

At the curb directly in front of our house, Blakely tossed her bag onto the front passenger seat, closed the door and stood with her back against her passenger side door, arms and legs crossed like she heard me follow and was patiently waiting for me.

Realizing she wasn’t going anywhere, I slowed my steps as I crossed the lawn. The night air had brought cooler temperatures, and goose bumps appeared over my exposed arms. Blakely seemed unfazed by it, though.

“You lied to me,” she said when I was only feet away, and her words stopped me in my tracks. “Youcooked me dinner, didn’t you?”

Her stare was unrelenting, and I couldn’t lie to her, so I nodded.

She unfolded her arms and held them out at her sides. “Why didn’t you tell me that?”

The best I could do with her standing there illuminated by the streetlight was shrug.

She stepped forward, and I mimicked the movement, taking a step forward myself and then another until we were less than a foot apart. “If you don’t tell me why, then I’m going to assume it’s because you wanted an excuse to see me.”

I had to clear my throat before I said, “I can’t argue with that assumption.”

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