He knew me so well. I texted Anamae, letting her know I didn’t need a ride home.

Be nice to brown bear and don’t forget shopping for prom tomorrow, she responded.

I shoved my cell in my back pocket without replying, then resumed drumming my fingers on the armrest. I hoped I was right about Knox, and that I could get to him before he left Woodvine. I began to breathe easier when we pulled into my driveway. Mom and Desmond’s cars were gone. Must still be at work.

“Sorry, Leath,” Victor said. “I didn’t mean to butt in.”

“It’s okay,” I blurted, grabbing my book bag off the floor. I made the mistake of looking into his eyes, then felt guilty for trying to brush him off. I forced myself to slow down. “I’m glad to know you still care about me.”

Victor reached across the seat to take my hand. His thick accent carried through me. “Of course I do. I love you, Leath. Always have. Always will.”

“You do know I feel the same way, right?” I asked.

He nodded. “But that’s not enough.” When I didn’t respond, he kissed the back of my hand before releasing me. “What’s the deal with the goon?”

I laughed. “Knox? He’s all right.”

Victor gazed out the window. “Are you interested in him?”

I sighed. No. A thousand times, no.

“We’re just friends,” I said.

“That happened pretty fast,” Victor said.

“I guess it did,” I said evenly. “But it’s true. I’m not interested in anything more than a friendship with him. Or anyone else.”

“Message received,” Victor grimly said.

“I didn’t mean that,” I stammered.

“It’s okay,” he said. “We’ll get through this.” When he smiled, he was almost like the pre-relationship Victor I knew and loved.

If this is as close as we got to the way things were, I’d take it. I waved to Victor from the front door as I watched him drive away. When he rounded the corner, I dropped my book bag and sprinted down the street. James’s house was on the next block over. The sight of the black Hummer in the driveway caused me to run even faster. I had to get there before Knox took off.

Panting, I stood at the front door, clutching a stitch in my side. Several things happened at once then. I raised my hand to knock, Knox pulled the door open before I could, and a single beep sounded from a car as it drove slowly away. I turned in time to see the tail lights of Victor’s BMW before the car picked up speed and drove off.

Crap.

No matter what I did, I was destined to hurt Victor in this reality.