Page 21 of Boys Who Hunt

What if they’re following me?

What if Heath only gave me back the hearing aid and said all those things to gauge my reaction? To see how far he could push me before I snapped?

To watch me leave … and follow me straight to my own damn home?

No.

I shiver in the cold and head right into one of the many city parks, where I stop near a bench and sit down. I pull my phone from my pocket and ring the neighbor until she picks up.

“Hey. It’s me.”

“How long ’til you’re home?”

“I … I can’t.”

“Can’t what?”

“Can you watch Cora and my cat for me?”

“What do you mean? Like … at night?”

“Yeah,” I say, still shivering.

“Oh fu—”

“Please.” I’m not opposed to begging. “I can’t come home.”

“Why?” She sounds like she’s suspicious of me.

“It’s not safe.”

She grumbles for a moment, and I can tell it’s hard on her too, but I can’t tell her the truth or she’d never help me out.

“Please, I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important,” I say. “Just for a few days. I promise I’ll be back.”

She sighs out loud. “Fine. But you owe me. Big time.”

A load falls off my shoulders. “Thank you. I’ll pay you.”

“You’d better.”

“Yes, definitely,” I assure her. “I’ll give you double.”

“Good. Because I have other things to do.”

“I know. I’m sorry. Thank you. Thank you for helping me out.”

“Yeah, yeah.” She hangs up the phone before I can say anything else, and tears immediately spring to my eyes.

That’s it. It’s done.

No more Cora.

At least not for a little while.

And even though I should feel relieved for not having to take care of a young kid for a while, the tears still stain my eyes at the thought of disappointing her, too.

I promised her I’d keep her safe. I promised her I’d make a life for us.