"Fine and annoying as always."
Good.
That knot of worry in my chest loosens just a little.
"Tell him I'll come see him soon."
"You'd better," Caleb says. "He keeps asking where you disappeared to."
"I'll deal with that later," I mutter.
I head for the door again and this time no one stops me.
Outside, the air feels cooler than it did earlier.
Marcus and Aaron are still nearby, leaning against one of the cars parked along the curb.
Aaron straightens when he sees me coming.
"You ready to go?"
"Yeah."
Marcus opens the car door for me and I slide into the back seat with Aaron climbing in beside me.
As the car starts moving, I glance out the window at the house I grew up in. For a moment, the weight of everything presses down on me again. A dead woman caught somewhere between them.
I sigh and lean my head back against the seat.
Aaron glances over.
"You alright?"
"Define alright."
He huffs quietly.
"Fair."
