Page 20 of Their Offering

She looked hurt at my tone but gave me a small smile, almost like she pitied me. “Look, I’m not saying this is some crazy soulmate situation, but clearly, there’s something here. They have a hold on you. That’s nothing to be ashamed of, Lilly. You don’t have to run from feeling things.”

“Katie, they’regone. There’s nothing to explore because they aren’t even here.” I sighed and blinked as I felt a single tear run down my cheek. “Fuck,” I huffed and wiped the tear away. I hated emotions. “You’re right.”

She leaned into me playfully. “Of course I am. About them not being here… Didn’t the note say they would be coming back for you?” She eyed me mischievously. “Little one.”

I hit her with a pillow, and she shrieked. “Fuck you, Katie. I never should have let you read that letter. You suck.”

She was right, though, about everything. I couldn’t stop thinking about them, even the tall, dark one I felt drawn to in my dreams—the one I couldn’t see. Theydidsay they were coming back.

“You love me.”

“Mmm-hmm.” I laughed as I stood.

“Where are you going?” She stood with me.

“Well, I guess I’m gonna go findmy princes. Those motherfuckers at least owe me an explanation. No one fucks Lillian into oblivion and disappears without a trace,” I teased.

“Let me go with you. I don’t want you to be alone.” I shook my head at her. “Are you going back to the building? Do you think they’ll be there? Come on, you need me.”

I shook my head again. “You’re not coming with me. I have to do this by myself, and yeah, I’m going back to the building. I doubt they’ll be there, but maybe I’ll find something about where to find them.”

She nodded and reached for her key hook by the door. “At least take my car. That’s too long of a walk.” She held out the keys, but I refused.

“I need the walk. Seriously. Thanks, though.”

She huffed, but she didn’t press. “Is your phone on? Charged? You’ll call me if you needanything,right? I mean it.”

I unlocked my phone to find it fully charged. Did Garrett charge my phone last night too? Why would anyone cheat on a guy like that? He was amazing––too amazing. I sent a wish out into the world for him to find an incredible girl worthy of him.

“It’s charged. I’ll keep you updated.” I hugged her. “Thanks, by the way.”

She looked confused.

“I never would be doing this without you. I would have thought I was crazy from the beginning. If you hadn’t pushed me…now I know I’m not crazy. Thissituationis crazy, though, and I’m going to get to the bottom of it.”

She nodded and gave me another tight squeeze. “Be careful.”

“Always am.” I grabbed the doorknob and then turned back to her. “I almost forgot. What happened with Matthew last night? I saw you guys kissing before I left. Anything I need to know?”

She instantly turned red. “Yeah, uh, we kissed. We also, um….”

“Hey, is your friend gone yet? Come back here, Katie. I wasn’t done.” That was Matthew’s voice.

My jaw dropped, and she hit my arm repeatedly. “Oh my god, Katie. Did you sleep with him? No way! You move fast!”

Her eyes widened with embarrassment, and she practically shoved me out the door. “Get out of my house. I’ll fill you in later. I have things to do.”

“Oh, I’d say you do too.” I managed to jump out of the way before she could whack me again. “Enjoy,” I sang in a high-pitch, wiggling my eyebrows and walking down the porch steps.

I heard the door close behind me, immediately feeling alone. After a deep breath, I headed down the road toward the woods. Even now, I felt its pull, like it knew I was coming. I had about two hours of walking to think everything through: I was going to find them, but then what? What was I going to do? What was I going to say? I wasn’t sure, but I knew I needed to see them again. I needed things to make sense.

Once I found the building again, my mind was no clearer than when I left Katie’s house. So much for that walk helping me out.

The door was still open, and it looked just as it did before. Would they even be in there? Maybe I should’ve left a note like they did. What if we just kept missing each other? The odds of us being in the building at the same time again were impossibly low, but I remained hopeful.

Just like every other time I was here, I felt calm, like this was where I belonged. I didn’t even feel this way in my own house.

“Hello?” I walked inside, letting my eyes adjust to the loss of light. It was already getting dark outside, and it was even darker in this windowless room.

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