Page 85 of Little Shattered Dreams

“Home, I guess.”

“Where’s home?”

“Here, in Pismo Beach.”

Pismo Beach.

A short, one-hour drive from Cambria.

“Is that where your parents live?” I asked.

“Yep.”

“I have a few questions for you, but the bag you’re carrying looks heavy. I can walk with you to your car if you like.”

He looked at the bag, shrugged, and started walking.

It seemed my nosiness with regard to the bag needed to be a bit more direct.

“What’s in the bag?” I asked.

“Clothes.”

I wanted to wrangle it away from him and rip the bag open. He was skittish. I wondered if it was because of Clara or if it had to do with something else.

“What do you plan on doing for work?” I asked.

“Don’t know yet. Haven't given it much thought.”

“You just quit, so you gave that some thought.”

He closed his eyes, sighed. “Look, I'm not trying to be rude, but I just want to leave. I don't want to be here anymore. Not after … anyway, I just need to go. Okay?”

“Did you love Clara?” I asked.

He popped open the trunk of his Subaru and tossed the bag in. Then he stood for a moment looking at it, as if he’d rather look at it than look at me.

I wasn’t leaving until he answered my question.

“You loved her, didn’t you?” I asked.

He scrunched up a brow. “What makes you think that?”

“The night Quinn died when Clara asked you to help her keep an eye on me.

Every time I looked at you, you were looking at Clara.”

“Doesn't mean Ilovedher. She was all shook up that night. I was just watching out for her.”

“Is it possible you loved her, but she didn’t love you?”

“We were good friends. Nothing more.”

“Grace seems to think Clara liked women in a romantic way,” I said. “Do you know anything about that?”

He closed the trunk and leaned against it. “Maybe.”

“What about an advance she made toward Karl? Did she ever mention it to you?”

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