Into the Fading Twilight (Starlight Grove, #2) (103)

I saw the two women who’d been nosy on my first day at the Boot coming out of the Yarn Barn. Waylon’s friend Blaze stepped out of the Cozy Cup, wearing rainbow-heart sunglasses and holding a to-go bag. More faces I didn’t recognize milled around. It was just … normal. And God, I needed that.

Going to the first planter made from a water trough, I gave the blooms a healthy drink. As I moved along, my gaze flicked to Cora, who was still on alert. “Can I ask you something?”

She startled. “Me?”

I nodded.

“Sure.”

I shifted to refill the can from a small hidden tap. “Are you still going to therapy?”

Cora stared at me for a second. “That wasn’t what I was expecting you to ask.”

My mouth curved. “What did you think I was going to ask?”

“Oh, I don’t know. Where I got this fabulous shirt?”

She gestured to her Boot T-shirt.

I chuckled before starting in on the other planter. “I just … I did a workshop with Aster’s friend Marly this morning.”

“Equine therapy?”

“Yeah. And it was … surprising. I always hated going to see the doctor at the hospital. It felt so invasive. Like he was trying to break into my mind.”

The corners of Cora’s mouth pulled down in a frown. “I’m sorry it felt like that.”

I shook my head. “It’s okay. I know he was trying to help. It’s just … we didn’t fit. But I think this, the horse therapy, might help. I think I’m finally ready.”

Cora tugged her lip between her teeth before speaking. “I stopped going.”

“To therapy?”

“Yeah. I just …” Her eyes began to glisten with unshed tears. “I can’t keep talking about him. It’s too hard. I know everyone thinks I should hate him, but I can’t.”

Empathy washed through me, and I set the watering can down to cross to Cora. I reached out and took her hands, squeezing. “You loved him for half your life. Of course, you can’t. Those feelings don’t just magically disappear overnight.”

Cora sniffed, trying to pull her emotions back. “I just … I miss him. I’m so mad at him, but I miss him. The him that was just for me.”

I gave her hands another squeeze. “Also normal. It’s going to take time to reconcile all the things Travis was.”

“I guess you’re right …” Cora’s eyes shot to mine. “Wait, you’re touching me.”

I hadn’t even realized I was doing it. It was just instinct. Wanting to comfort a friend who was hurting. “I guess I am,” I said with a small smile.

“Big step,” Cora whispered.

I swallowed hard. “I’m starting to remember some things. And as hard as it is, I think it’s helping.”

Cora’s eyes went wide, and she opened her mouth to say something, but a voice interrupted.

“Now isn’t this sweet?” Reese said as he strode up. “My readers will love knowing how you two have bonded.”

Cora instantly tugged her hands from mine, whirling around, her green eyes blazing with pure fire. “Get the hell away from here. Away from us.”

One corner of Reese’s mouth tugged up. “I’m just trying to tell the truth, and this sidewalk is public property, so I’m well within my rights.”

“You’re not telling the truth. You’re profiting off people’s pain. And if the universe has any justice, you’ll know exactly how it feels to lose everything,” Cora snarled.

“Come on,” I said, my voice low. “He wants a reaction. He’s trying to provoke us into saying something.” But I let my mask slip. I let all the rage and hurt show because Reese Gatlin should have to see what he was stirring up.

I thought I saw a quick intake of breath as I tugged Cora toward the entrance of the Boot, but Reese quickly covered it and doubled down. “I heard they found a body at Aspen Falls near Three Creeks Canyon Trail. Heard it was a woman, too. Any comment about a new monster out there?”

All the blood drained from my body. Dizziness crashed over me in waves, but I still managed to get myself and Cora inside. I threw the lock on the door on instinct.

Wylder was already striding across the space. “What happened? What’s wrong?”

It was Cora who spoke, her voice shaking as she did. “They found a body. A woman. Near Three Creeks.”

Wylder moved then, wrapping an arm around Cora’s shoulders. I saw the war on her face, not wanting to give in to the comfort but needing it so desperately. Finally, she turned into him, pressing her face to his shoulder.

Wylder’s gaze cut to me. “Kol’s on his way.”

That’s when I understood. Wylder had already known. I wasn’t sure what he’d told Cora—maybe just to stick together because something was up—but that’s why she’d come outside with me. Because she was a good friend. And it had gotten her emotionally annihilated.

The dizziness ebbed as pure fury took its place. When would enough be enough? I’d already been kidnapped, held captive, tortured, and tormented. But still, the universe demanded more. And the fact that Reese Gatlin was helping it along only pissed me off more.

A shadowy figure appeared in the far hallway, and I braced. If it was Reese, I was going to knee him in the junk so hard it burst his goddamned balls.