Far From You

7

NOW (JUNE)

“Seriously, Sophie?” Kyle folds his arms across his massive chest, looking from the bear spray to the door and back again. “You’ve lost it. Put that down; you’re gonna hurt yourself. The ventilation in here sucks.”

He’s probably right. But I keep the can aimed right at him. “You lied to the cops about why Mina and I were at the Point. Innocent people who want their girlfriend’s killer caught don’t do that.”

He gapes at me. “You think I had something to do with it? Are you kidding me? I loved her.” His voice quavers. “Mina’s gone, and it’s your fault. If you weren’t such a junkie, she’d still be alive.”

My fingers tighten around the can. “If you cared about her so much, tell me why you lied.”

Someone bangs on the bathroom door. I flinch, dropping the can. It rolls across the tile floor and Kyle takes advantage of the distraction, jumping for the exit.

“I won’t stop,” I warn him as he fumbles with the lock.

“Screw you, Soph. I’ve got nothing to hide.”

He slams the door shut behind him. I can hear muffled voices on the outside, snatches of a conversation that starts with “Don’t go in there, man” before Kyle’s voice fades.

I press my hand near my heart, like that’ll help it calm down. I can feel the ridges of the scar there, where the surgeons cracked my chest after the crash.

I grab the bear spray from the floor, put it in my purse, and head to the door. By now, Kyle’ll be long gone. Probably off to spread the news that Sophie Winters is back home and crazier than ever.

Someone’s standing at the door when I open it. I almost smack into his chest, my bad leg twists as I step back, and I falter. When a hand reaches out to steady me, I know without looking up who it is.

Dread covers me like a body, hot and heavy and fitting in all the wrong places. I’m not prepared for this. I’ve avoided thinking about this moment for months.

I can’t face him.

But I can’t walk away.

Not again.

“Trev,” I say instead.

Mina’s brother stares back at me, tall and broad and so familiar. I force myself to look into his eyes.

It’s like looking into hers.