Chapter 25

An hour later, the front door creaked open, and Tru stepped outside. I could tell he’d been crying, but his cheeks were dry now and he was smiling. He joined me on the swing without a word, and I couldn’t help but notice the distance between us. Ever since our first night together, he’d always stayed close enough to touch. My stomach did a little flip, wondering what that meant.

“Thank you,” he murmured. His hand twitched, but he didn’t reach out. So I did, clasping his fingers in mine. He latched on like I was a lifeline.

“I didn’t do anything,” I said in the same tone.

His smile wobbled, and he turned to face me. “You came here. You stayed.” He blew out a breath. “Seeing you was, apparently, the final straw. She’s talking.”

“That’s good, right?” Why wouldn’t he come closer?

“It is. And listening, too. The places her mind has gone, the things she’s convinced herself of…” He shook his head. “I think I’ve persuaded her to actually talk to a grief counselor. To help her.”