something with my dad. I don’t know her.”
He looks at me with the same level of scrutiny she had, like he’s looking for honesty in my words. He slowly nods. “You’re probably right. She’s clearly a few screws short of a hardware store.”
“Batshit nuts,” I confirm, wiping a stray tear from my cheek. I don’t know why they’re falling exactly, just that I can’t seem to make them—or my thoughts—stop.
Ellen.
Ellen.
Ellen.
The name repeats through my mind like a merry-go-round, digging through forgotten memories and discarded thoughts from my childhood.
Arlo pulls me to a stop in the middle of the sidewalk. His gray eyes are filled with concern, and his jaw is tight, making the small, jagged scar that’s right above his shallow dimple more obvious. “Sorry I got you involved in this,” he says, wrapping his arm around me and pulling me closer for a hug. His sweatshirt feels cold at first against my face, and then it quickly warms and catches my tears.
I shake my head, my voice too unsteady to reply. I pull in a breath through my nose and take a step back, focusing on the breeze, the light mist promising to curl and frizz my hair and make me feel damp and cold all night. I focus on Rose being out of class soon and busy the rest of my thoughts with ideas for takeout.
“Sorry to weird out. I just…” I blow out a breath. “We should go.”
He nods, and though he offers a smile, his gaze is still serious, and his silence too loud.
9
Arlo
My thoughts are still in the parking lot of Pivotal Physical Therapy, where Olivia slipped out of my SUV and into her car with barely a wave. She was silent for the entire drive, her attention solely on the passenger window.
It has me thinking of home—of New Jersey. Of Mom stopping at bakeries on her way home to pick up baklava and Dad getting excited over picking up a car for a great deal. Summers at the shore with them and my brother and a train ride to get nearly anywhere.
“Hey!” Raegan calls, taking a step back from where she’s standing in the kitchen.
“Rae Rae, what’s up? I haven’t seen you around. You guys aren’t still avoiding being around Pax, are you?”
She flashes a smile that grows as I make my way toward her.
“What are you talking about? I brought you food and a stack of RedBox movies.” She looks at Lincoln, who has a garbage bag open, standing in front of the fridge where he’s pitching out all the spoiled food.
“That was four weeks ago,” I tell her.
She frowns. “Has it been that long? Gosh, I swear time is on fast forward lately. How are you feeling? You look good.”
I wink, turning my attention to Lincoln. “Hear that? Your girlfriend’s still checking me out.”
Lincoln flips me off before grabbing what appears to have once been a tomato. “She’s lying because she’s too nice.”
“Rae Rae, do I need to tell your boyfriend that you’re an independent thinker and defend your honor?”
“Don’t tell him that,” she whispers. “I’m in the process of reverse psychology-ing him.”
Lincoln pauses, giving her a side-eye to end all side-eyes, then shakes his head and laughs as he turns his attention to me. “Where have you been?”
I pull in a breath, starvation and pain are my excuses as I take a seat and explain my journey with Olivia to go and find the woman who cursed me.
“Wait,” Lincoln says. “So, you really believe you’re cursed? Like for real, real? Not a joke?”
“Have you been listening to the list of evidence?” I ask.
“Yeah, and I think you’re fucking crazy.”
“I think it’s cute that she offered to go with you. I haven’t heard you mention Olivia before.” Raegan sits across from me, her eyes bright with an obvious intention to learn more.
“It’s not what you’re thinking, Sherlock. She has a boyfriend. We’re just friends.” My brow furrows as I think of Olivia and her place in my life or if there even is one. “I’m not even sure we’re friends. We’re more acquaintances.”
“And the plot thickens,” Rae says, taking a seat at the bar beside me.
I shake my head. “No, I’m serious. She’s stubborn and opinionated and Southern.”
Lincoln looks at me. “She has an accent?”
Raegan grabs an empty paper towel roll that’s sitting near my elbow and throws it at Lincoln. He catches it and flashes a smile.
“You guys are hopeless,” Rae Rae says with a faux Southern accent that makes her