Page 131 of Dean

Even when I’m no longer around.

“Welp, I think I’ll leave you three to it.” I grab my keys out of my pocket, jangling them. “Gotta get home to Avery.”

“Yeah, okay. Bye, Dad,” Ben says, and I offer them a small smile, winking at Cash and Ford as I go.

Yeah, everything will be okay with those three. I don’t need to worry.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

AVERY

“Um, why do you have a knife?” I ask Kit as he peers out the window, on high alert. Ever since I told him about Nick and the broken pots he’s been wary. When Dean said to look out for me, he took that far too seriously.

He stares down at the knife and then back at me. “To protect you if the bad man comes back.”

“If he comes back, we’ll call the police. We’re not going to stab him.”

“I mean, you don’t have to. But really, we should apprehend him and bury him in the backyard.”

“Oh my god. No. We aren’t doing that.” I eye Kit as he peers through the blinds again. “I mean, have you murdered someone before? I think it’s easier said than done.”

He peers back at me. “Sadly, I suck at murder.”

I stare at him. “Wait, you’ve tried to murder someone? Is that what all those weird jokes were about?”

“I mean, yes? Ugh, I want to be good at it, but I’m not. I feel too much. I’m too much of a softie.”

“Jesus, Kit, you realize that’s like creepy, right? And you’re in my home right now.”

“Yeah, but we’re friends, right? Besties?”

“I mean, I think so. Can you tell me how you got caught up in trying to murder someone?”

“Well, it was, you know…an ad. On Craigslist. And I answered it and then of course, I failed because they were so nice.”

“You can’t go answering murder-for-hire ads on Craigslist. That’s like total catfishing or entrapment. I don’t know what it’s called but you could go to jail.”

“Yeah, I kinda figured. Guess it’s good I didn’t do it then.”

“Yeah. Guess so. So when was this?”

He shifts on his feet and sighs. “It doesn’t matter. Just know that I can protect you. Maybe. Probably not, but I won’t let anyone hurt you. You’re the best friend I’ve ever had. Nick is as good as dead if he approaches this house again. I took axe-throwing lessons once. I have mostly good aim.”

“Well, let’s hope he doesn’t show up tonight,” I say. “Nick really is a big crybaby. I mean, he’s been threatening me, but he’d never do anything to me. Just make threats. If anything, he’d hire someone to do something to me. Which is really dumb. Because I didn’t take his money.”

“Yeah, you don’t seem like the type to take what isn’t yours.”

I feel guilt creep up within me, but I push it down. That was then. It was necessary for survival. This is now. I didn’t take it. Nick is just trying to put the blame on someone and that someone is unfortunately me. I’m a target for some reason, and I need to get him off my back.

“Yeah,” I say and then flop down on the couch. “Come on. Let’s watch a movie.”

Kit peers out of the window and then sets the knife on the end table and sits down next to me, scooting close to me.

“Okay, but I’m on high alert. Just so you know.”

He leans forward and grabs a cracker with cheese, shoving it into his mouth and chewing loudly.

Within twenty minutes, he’s asleep, his head on my shoulder, soft snores coming from his mouth.

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