Before Aiden, Mason, and Noah get here, I make one last phone call, and pray Annalisa answers.

28

I’m expecting Aiden, Noah, and Mason when they pull up beside my car a few minutes after my call with Tony. I usher them in and give each of them a hug. Even though I may hold on for just a stitch longer than normal, my face is schooled into perfect calmness, my emotions hidden away. I’m sticking to the plan.

“Are you all right? How was the call?” Aiden asks me, grabbing my hips and pulling me close.

“I’m fine,” I say, only somewhat believing it. A part of my brain has shut off, as if trying not to fully process everything. If I do, I’ll break down.

“And you stuck to the plan? Told him about Anna? Offered him to meet her?” Mason asks, his eyes as intense as Aiden’s. It was fun, thinking we could control the situation, could control bad men capable of worse things.

Moving out of Aiden’s grip, I lead them up to my room. It’s not a lie when I say, “He knows about Anna.”

Aiden stops me just before we enter my room. He looks tired, like he hasn’t slept in weeks. His gaze is intense and pierces straight to my soul. “Hey. You don’t need to do this.”

Aiden’s always been against this, and I know why. But it’s time we end this. I’m not putting anyone in danger anymore. Besides, it’s too late to change anything. It was always going to come down to this.

“It’ll be all right,” I say, for myself as much as him.

His jaw tightens as his eyes roam over me. Stick to the plan.

Finally, he nods. He turns to follow Noah and Mason into my room, but I grab his wrist and pull him back to me, drawing him against me and laying my head against his chest. I let his steady heartbeat calm me for a few moments. His arms come around me, his hands clutching fistfuls of my sweater, holding me close.

I pull back and bring my lips to his, kissing him with everything I have, since it may be the last time. It’s desperate and rough and communicating everything I wish I could say. I love you. I’m sorry. I’ll never forget you. Please forgive me. I pull away just when I think my heart can’t take the pain of what’s about to happen.

He plants a kiss on the top of my head and lets me go when I pull away. He clears his throat and enters my room.

“Ew. Get a room,” Noah says, even though I know he doesn’t mean it. He looks around my bedroom and quickly adds, “But not this one. We’re in here.”

Mason says something to him, but I’m not listening.

“Hey, give me your phones. I’m going to make sure our times are synced up,” I say, holding out my hand for them.