By the term of endearment, she had revealed herself. She’d only call me those asinine pet names in front of her friends, the fake ones who she’d ruthlessly trash in the privacy of her home. I wasn’t welcome, and she wanted me to leave sooner rather than later.

People were beginning to crowd around my parents, like a small army of judgmental assholes, all listening in to make sure they could hear the juicy details to discuss at the next dinner party.

I began to turn, but William quickly approached. “This has got to stop. You—”

“Dad,” I said, my voice saccharine sweet, “you remember Taylor Maddox. He’s from Eakins, Illinois.”

William blanched.

Blaire touched her fingers to her chest. “Bill,” she said, reaching for her husband, “leave Falyn to her friend. Good night, sweetheart.”

“We’ll discuss this later,” William said, turning his back on me.

I pulled Taylor to the truck, desperate to get into the passenger seat. Once Taylor was sitting beside me, I yanked on the seat belt, feeling like I could finally breathe once it clicked.

“You okay?” he asked.

“I think so.”

“What was that about?”

I shook my head.

“Falyn,” he said, hesitation in his voice, “why do they care that I’m from Eakins?”

“Because they don’t want me anywhere near there.”

“Why not?”

“Because I could cause a lot of trouble for a lot of people if I go there.”

Taylor started the truck, and I peered over at him.

He was staring straight ahead into the darkness. “Did you know I was from Eakins when we met?”

“No.”

“Does it have to do with the fire?”

“Does what have to do with what fire?”

He turned to me, glaring. “Are you fucking with me, Falyn? Who are you?”

I wrinkled my nose. “What fire? What are you talking about?”

He faced forward again. “Do you know Trex?”

“The guy who came with you to the café the first time?”

Taylor sighed and then shoved the gearshift into reverse. “We’ve both gotta work tomorrow. We should call it a night.”

He didn’t speak again throughout the ride to downtown. When he parked in front of the Bucksaw, he didn’t even put the truck into park.

“Th-thanks.” I slowly unbuckled my seat belt and placed my hand on the door handle. “It was a good day.”

“It was,” he said, sighing. Regret was all over his face.

I fished out my keys and unlocked the front door under the lights of Taylor’s truck. Once I was inside and the door was locked, Taylor backed into the street and drove away.

I stood in the dim dining area, alone and confused. Eakins had other secrets, more than just mine.

Chapter Eight

Six days.