Page 184 of What We Break

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Like you're in pain.

She sees too much. She's going to figure it out. And when she does?—

I splash water on my face. Once. Twice. Until the cold shocks me back into control.

When I return to the table, I don't meet her eyes again for the rest of the night.

It'stwo AM when I call Hatch.

I don't plan to. I'm sitting in the dark in the workshop, unable to sleep, unable to work, unable to stop hearing Laine's voice in my head.Like you're in pain.

My phone's in my hand before I realize what I'm doing.

He picks up on the second ring. "Moore."

"Did I wake you?"

"I'm up. What's going on?"

I don't answer right away. Don't know why I called. Don't know what I expected him to say.

"Blake."

"Yeah. I'm here."

"You sound like shit."

"Thanks."

"I'm serious. What's going on?"

I rub my hand over my face. The workshop smells like sawdust and wood stain, familiar things that usually settle me. Not tonight.

"You remember what you said at the campfire? About Reid's girlfriend?"

"I remember."

"It's getting worse."

Dead silence, long enough that I almost check to see if we’re still connected. "Worse how?"

"I can't be around her. Every time I try, I—" I stop. Start again. "She told me tonight I look at her like I'm in pain."

"What'd you say?"

"Nothing. Reid walked back in."

A heavy sigh. "Goddamn. She's going to figure it out."

"Yeah."

"Does Reid know?"

"No. And he's not going to."

Hatch grunts. "So what's your plan? Keep white-knuckling it until you snap? 'Cause it doesn't sound like that shit's working."

No, it fucking isn't. "I don't have a plan. That's why I'm calling you at two in the goddamn morning, asshole."

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