Her mom was trying, and her dad was attempting something like parenthood now that the seriousness of the past few months was clear. Mark had even taken a week off to come visit her, and their parents hadn’t said a word about him missing class for Lia. That was nice.

New but nice.

A month ago, Lia’s mind had been fixed on May as the month her childhood would end and the world hit her full force. Every choice had felt important and every mistake like the end of the world. Then death had come barreling in with all the grace of an angry eighteen-year-old who thought they were owed the world.

But after all that had happened, for the first time in ages fear didn’t constrict her chest or speed up her heart. It didn’t even rear its head.

“Your parents haven’t been on you as much now, right?” Gem asked.

Lia nodded. “Yeah, they have been treating me a lot better, but I don’t know how long it will last,” she said. “They’re already iffy on letting me visit Devon next year.”

“It’s only three hours away!” Devon pulled them to a stop, his fingers curling gently around her arm. “You can confront a killer but not have a boyfriend?”

Lia laughed. “It’s funny when you say it like that.” She wasn’t sure what would happen between her and Devon. Things changed. People changed. Maybe Lia and Devon wouldn’t like who the other became in four years.

But for now, they were together. And they had caught a murderer and not died. A long-distance relationship and college seemed a lot less daunting after that.

They walked through the cemetery grounds, avoiding stepping on headstones. It was a quiet and peaceful place, with trees and stone benches and ornate shrubbery. It made Lia sad to think of Abby here, but as far as final resting places went, it was pretty nice.

“Yeah, I think they put up a fight just for show. I’m not keeping to that rule,” Lia said. She kissed his cheek. “I’m allowed to visit Gem—that is, if you still want me.”

Gem gave her a gentle push. “Please. You are welcome anytime. I’m bringing a sleeping bag for you so you’ll always have a place to crash.”

Lia wasn’t going to college. Not yet, at least, her mom kept saying. After everything, Lia wanted a break. She had gotten a job at a café a town over where fewer people knew her face. If nothing else, working would give her more control over her life. Maybe that was why her parents hated her new plan.

Devon exhaled with a whistle. “Let’s just hope no underclassmen get any ideas about how to get a free pass senior year.”

Suddenly, the sound of three phones vibrating at the same time disrupted the stillness of the cemetery grounds.

Lia looked at Gem and Devon, pulling her phone out of her pocket. Gem and Devon took their phones out as well.