Page 58 - My FlipBook

L IS A J. L A W R E N C E

Ash was already awake when she opened her eyes.
Greta could always tell when he wasn’t sleeping. He lay on
his back, watching the hint of morning through the open
storage-room door. She twisted onto her back too, hiking
the blanket up under her chin. The air attacked her exposed
knee before she pulled it in.
Ash laced his fingers behind his head. “How come you
don’t seem that upset about Dad leaving?”

Greta always assumed she didn’t have to explain with
Ash. So disappointing, the times he proved her wrong. “You
mean because I didn’t nearly cause a five-car pileup and kick
over a garbage can?”
Ash didn’t respond.
“To be honest, I’m kind of in shock.” What would happen
the moment they left the storage room? ADVANCE READING COPY

They let the silence sit.
“But I’m not surprised,” Greta said. She felt Ash’s head snap
in her direction. “Deep down, it’s what I thought would happen
after I heard them talking.” Her stomach growled. Every part of
her felt achy and hollow. “Even if I hadn’t heard them talking.”
“We’ve lost them both,” Ash said. Greta knew he didn’t
mean Patty. His words laid her flat. There was no way they’d
ever climb out of the storage-room pit now.
“Yes.”

Ash became so still, even breathing didn’t move his body.
How does he do that? Minutes passed.
“What do we do now?” Greta asked. She knew Ash was
waiting for her to say it first.

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