Page 165 of No Need to Run
“The basement,” Ivy and I say in unison.
I turn back toward the house and try to focus on literally anything else.
Time to start fresh.
The place is quiet.Clean. Empty in that strange way that doesn't quite feel like home yet.
Like it hasn’t decided if it wants me here yet.
“Alright,” I say, clapping my hands once. “Let’s just start with the boxes. Movers should be here soon?—”
A car door slams.
I freeze.
Ivy perks up immediately like a feral animal sensing entertainment.
“Oh,” she says, grinning. “Company.”
I turn.
And there she is.
Violet Quinn stands beside her Porsche like she belongs here.
Her gaze locks onto mine instantly, a soft smile already in place. She waves, sunglasses perched on her head.
She turns slightly, and I spot Luna’s cat carrier hanging from her arm.
“Hey!” she calls. “We beat the furniture guys!”
I blink.
“We?”
“Yes. Luna and me.”
Ivy gasps.
“Oh my God,” she whispers, grabbing my arm. “She brought Luna. You didn’t tell me they were coming over.”
“I didn’t invite them.”
“You don’t have to,” Ivy says cheerfully. “They found you anyway.”
That’s not reassuring.
Sebastian exhales slowly beside me. “This is how it begins, Drew.”
“She’snotstalking me,” I say too quickly.
Sebastian snorts. “You sure about that?”
Violet is already walking toward us like she’s done this a hundred times. Like she knows exactly how this is going to play out.
“Hi,” she says when she reaches me, her voice soft and warm. “Move-in day. How exciting.”
My stomach tightens.
