Chapter 22: Chapter 23

Later that night, after she'd helped Grams clean up dinner, when Serena hadn't come out of her room and Austin had locked himself away in the library, Courtney found herself walking across the yard toward Jake's house.

The fireflies were emerging, blinking across the expanse of grass, and crickets chirped as dusk neared end. Humidity clung to the air, dampening her skin.

His porch light was off, as if a beacon to stay away. The back door was open, but no sounds emerged from inside. She knocked twice on the screen and received no answer.

She stood for a moment in the heat, debating whether to turn around and go back. But the alarm and pain she felt radiating from him bombarded her. Jake was not doing well with the news about Serena. Pressing her hand against the door, his mood shoved its way into her mind, wrapping around it, and breaking her heart. She sighed and tucked the hair behind her ears when the breeze blew.