Page 197 of Finding Hope

Alex sits back on his haunches and looks at me. “When was the last time you saw it?”

“I don’t know…” I cross my arms awkwardly over my chest. I need a damn hug. “Yesterday. I know for sure I had it yesterday.”

“So what did you do yesterday? Did you have it at breakfast?”

“Yep. I had it at breakfast.”

“Lunch? We had lunch at Franky’s. Did you have it then?”

“Yep.” I transfer the weight between my feet. “I had it at lunch.”

“What did you do after lunch?”

“I hung out with the guys for a bit. Watched them practice.”Because I’m a loser and have no friends of my own.

“Did you lose it at Scotch’s place?”

“No.”

“Where’d you go after that?”

The cemetery.

My eyes must give away my thoughts, because Alex stands and steps in front of me. “Where’d you go, Brat?”

“To Steph.”

He nods gently. “Do you remember having it after that?”

I think about walking away from the cemetery. I think about dinner last night, exactly what I was wearing, exactly the things I did.

“I don’t know.”

“Okay. Go back to Steph. Maybe it’s there.”

“That’s a huge space to search, X.” I slump with defeat. “What if I never find it again?”

He smiles and patronizingly chucks my chin. “You definitely won’t with that attitude. Go have a look. A walk in the sun will be good for you, anyway. You’ve been moping around inside way too much.”

“Not moping.” I look at my bedside clock.

Three on a Friday afternoon. The coastshouldbe clear.

I nod and sit on the edge of my bed and grab my shoes. Slowly working to slide the first foot in, Alex chuckles at my clumsy movements and drops to his knees to help.

“I’ll be back in an hour…” I consider my words. “Or six, depends if I need to crawl around in the grass.”

He finishes tying my laces and stands. He pulls me up like I’m an invalid.

I’m not.

My legs work just fine.

Leaning forward, he drops a kiss on my cheek. “Be careful. Call me if you need anything.”

“Yeah.”

“Watch out for the cemetery stalkers.”

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