car, you’d recognize her, and we’d be past the point of running.”

Vanessa spoke at last. “The ultimatum was my idea. I’m sorry it had to be like this.”

“It had to be like something,” I whispered.

Austin took my hand. “I wasn’t trying to hurt you. I just needed you to stop running. From her. From him. From Jamie. From all of it.”

“I was scared,” I said.continue reading …