Page 35 of The Two Last Moments

Ugh, not something I want to discuss with him.

Danny already urged me to tell West Oaks PD about Cam, and he was there when I made the call to Angela. But Kathy doesn’t know Cam’s last name—he’s more of a mystery thanIam, apparently—and I don’t remember him at all, obviously.

Kathy said we’ll try to file a restraining order in Eureka. If my ex-boyfriend shows his face and comes near me, he’ll be arrested. If he’s the one who attacked me here in West Oaks, then he’ll go to prison.

“Protecting me isn’t your problem anymore,” I remind Danny.

And he said it best.Nothing worse than being the idiot who sticks around when you’re not wanted.

The Bradleys don’t feel that way about me now, but they will. It’s inevitable, even if they would never admit it. Danny and Nina are good people who make sacrifices for each other. I’m… I’m someone who would choose an asshole named Cam over the aunt who loves me. I’m trying not to judge my past self. But if I keep staying in West Oaks, doesn’t that hurt my aunt even more?

“I just need to say goodbye to Nina, and then we can go.”

Danny frowns like he intends to argue. But he’s silent as I head to Nina’s room. I’ve been keeping her posted on everything Kathy has told me.

I knock on her doorframe. “Hey, I’m ready to go. Can I come in?”

“Of course.” I go to her, and Nina holds my wrist in a surprisingly strong grip. “You call us when you arrive in Eureka. Tell us everything that’s going on. And if there’s even a hint of your ex sniffing around, call the police and call Danny, too.”

“I’ll be fine. Thank you so much for everything. But you don’t have to worry about me.”

“That’s a load of bull, and you know it. You’re a friend, and that’s as good as family. You always have a place to stay in West Oaks. Now give me a hug.”

I hug her, and suddenly all my insides are bunched up in my throat, choking me. Tears sting in my eyes. I can’t believe I’ve only known her and Danny for a week. But considering how little I remember from before, it’s kinda like my whole life.

And now, this part of my life is over.

It’s a solid nine hours up to Eureka, so Kathy drives down to meet us halfway. We’re supposed to connect with her at a travel stop near Fresno. She says she has friends there, and we’ll stay overnight before driving up to Eureka the next day. Danny doesn’t say much on the drive, which makes for a long four hours. He drums his fingers against the steering wheel, and the radio fills the silence between us.

Finally, we pull into the travel stop. There are gas pumps for cars and trucks along one side, and a store and restaurant on the other. Danny parks in the lot. A glare rises up from all the concrete, making me squint.

An ache builds between my eyes. In my heart.

He reaches into his pocket and fishes out a piece of paper. “This is my cell. Text when you get wherever you’re going, all right? I want to hear how Eureka is. I’ve never been.”

“Guess I’ll find out.”

We watch the entrance to the travel shop until a woman with auburn hair and feathered bangs arrives. Kathy Sullivan. She’s looking all around anxiously, wringing her hands as she scans the passing faces.

A brief moment of panic seizes me.I’m not ready.

But I push out of the car anyway.

We head over, and Danny is the first to introduce himself. His face is stoic, gestures stiff as he shakes Kathy’s hand. Then Kathy dives toward me for a hug. She squeezes me a little too hard, as if she’s afraid I’ll disappear again.

“Do you have any other bags?” she asks me.

“Just this.” I shrug one shoulder, which is holding the backpack that Danny gave me. It’s stamped WOFD. There’s not much inside, just a change of clothes and some cash that Nina insisted I take with me.

“Thanks for driving her,” Kathy says to Danny. “And taking care of her. I’m so grateful. I thought we’d grab some lunch. Did you want to join us, Danny?”

“If Lark wants me to.”

They both look to me. Panic is clawing at me again.

Don’t go, I want to say.Please. But if we drag this out, it’s just going to hurt more later. “We should say goodbye. Kathy, could you grab us a table and give me and Danny a minute?”

She nods and pushes through the glass door into the building.

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