Kamryn’s pov

I wasn’t sure why I set alarms because I never wake up to them if I’ve been up late the night before or I wake up before they go off, today was one of those days. Days like today are when I get my morning runs in and the other days are for evening runs and gym sessions.

“I should really stop setting alarms” I muttered to myself as I turned it off and dressed for my run. An hour later I was showered and dressed heading to the shop to open for the day. I was surprised to see Pat there when I got there.

“You’re in town and didn’t bother to text?” I asked, hugging him

“Nah, it was kind of a need to know thing. My sister’s not doing too good with me being gone” he said, looking around

“Come on in the others won’t be here for another thirty minutes” I said, unlocking the side door and locked it back when we were inside.

“Thanks,” Pat said, sitting on a stool in the shop office.

“No need to thank me. Your dad still comes here for his car repairs and I don’t trust that he hasn’t bought half my crew” I said, shrugging out of my jacket.

“I believe it with my dad” he said, relaxing a bit, but not much.

“So, you say you’re here because of Amelia? What’s going on?” I asked, I know I don’t know her all that well, but I still cared if she was alright or not.

“Lydia says on the outside she’s fine, but she can tell she’s pulling away” he said, looking at me. I shook my head in agreement, she hadn’t looked too good the last time I saw her either.

“So, you’re here to cheer her up?” I asked, raising my eyebrow at him.

“Yes, I can’t let what happened with our dad keep me from seeing her. Lydia and I made plans to meet at a restaurant outside of town that she knows” he said as his phone buzzed

“Ah, take Amelia out of town so no one reports back to daddy” I said, smiling at the brilliant idea and as Pat smiled at his phone.

“Yeah. If anyone did report back to dad all they would see is Amelia and Lydia going for a bite to eat out of town” he said, answering his text.

“That’s pretty smart, but are you both sure your dad’s reach doesn’t go that far?” I didn’t want to ask, but I had to and Pat knew it.

“It’s a town that’s out of the way with a population of about 1,000 people. Dad doesn’t bother with towns of less then at least 15,000. So, I think we are good, but don’t worry if anything looks shady I will go back to school and Lydia and Amelia will still have a bite to eat” he said, looking up at me. I nodded my head and laughed a little.

“All because your dad’s a prick” I said, laughing again.

“Yeah” was all Pat said. He left a little bit after that. Just before everyone got to the shop and we opened for the day.


Amelia’s pov

I didn’t want to go on whatever adventure Lydia was dragging me on today, but she told me I didn’t have a choice.

“Trust me. You will want to see what this adventure entails.” Lydia said as we climbed in her car after school and got ready for the “adventure.” An hour later we pulled into the parking lot of a restaurant in a smallish town and I couldn’t help, but wonder if she was finally going to kill me.

“I know what you’re thinking and no, I’m not going to kill you” she said, parking and turned off her car.

“It’s kind of scary that you knew that” I said, hopping out.

“Amelia, we practically grew up together I almost always know what you’re thinking” she said, walking into the restaurant. I just shook my head and followed after her. I wasn’t expecting to find her in a booth with familiar golden brown hair.

“Pat?” was all I got out before I was facing my brother, who I missed more than anything.

“Hey, sis. Miss me?” he barely got the question out before I rushed and hugged him and almost started crying. “I’ll take that as a yes.” he said, hugging me back just as hard as I was hugging him.

“This is why you wouldn’t let me get out of it” I said, looking at Lydia. After hugging and almost crying we sat down and ordered lunch.

“Yep” she said, looking at me with a big smile on her face.

“I hate you sometimes” I said, but the smile on my face told her I was kidding and she knew I could never hate her.

“I know” she said, laughing at me.

“How’s mom?” Pat asked, looking at me over his food.

“Not good. She’s pretty much alone all the time while I’m at school and she’s lost the spark she always had in her eyes” I said, looking at him, but I was surprised by what he asked next.

“What about dad?” he asked I gaped at him, but I couldn’t help it. I wasn’t expecting him to ask about dad.

“Honestly, I’m not sure. We hardly ever see him. He’s gone before I get up and he’s home after I’m in bed. I’ve heard him come in when I stay up talking to you, but I haven’t been in the same room as him since you left.” I said, taking a sip of my drink.

“Huh, that kind of surprises me. I figured he would spend more time at home, but guess that won’t ever change” he said, eating a piece of his sandwich. We finished our meal in silence after that. After we paid I wasn’t ready for Pat to go.

“I wish we had more time” I said, hugging him tight.

“I know. I promise every time I can get away for longer than a day I will” he said, letting me go. I shook my head yes and went to wait by Lydia’s car so they could have their goodbye privately.


Patrick’s pov

After saying goodbye to Amelia I turned to Lydia knowing Amelia walked away to give us some privacy.

“Thank you” was the first thing I said to her before wrapping her in a hug, knowing that it would be a few days before our next video date/study night.

“I would do anything for you guys. Plus, I can’t stand to see her sink into depression” she said, hugging me tighter. 

“I know. I promise I will make time to come more often.” I said, kissing the top of her head.

“I would like that and so would Amelia, but for times we can’t meet in person keep facetiming her as often as possible and we will keep our study/date nights” she said, pulling away from me.

“Deal” I said, smiling at her. I gave her one last kiss on her forehead and watched them pull away. I knew they would both text me when they got home. When I got back to my dorm I was over it. Don’t get me wrong I enjoyed spending time with my sister and Lydia, but after the drive I was done. I showered, changed my clothes, and collapsed into bed and attempted to continue the novel that I’ve been trying to read for months now, but with all the reading I have to do for school my personal reading has been pushed to the back burner. I got maybe ten pages read before falling asleep with the book on my chest.


Kaden’s pov

I was watching the clock barely listening to the meeting. It was the same shit that we’ve been talking about for months. My phone buzzed with a text from both my wife and Declan. I smiled at the one from Alexandra as I sent a reply back, but the one from Decland had me puzzled. He wanted to meet for drinks at a local bar after I was off. I texted him also and thirty minutes later I was sitting across from Declan sharing a drink with him.

“I was surprised to hear from you” I said, taking a sip from my glass, looking at the man across from me with uncertainty.

“What? Can I not catch up with an old friend?” he asked, smiling at me.

“Decland we haven’t been in contact for years now and all of a sudden you contact me out of the blue. I feel like you need something” I said, finishing off my drink.

“I just want to catch up with some old friends” he said as someone walked up to our table.

“Hi, I’m Viviane. Nice to meet you” she said, holding out her hand for me to shake and I couldn’t help, but stare at her and I felt a weird sensation come over me. One I couldn’t explain, but I felt like I was losing myself and the person I was becoming I wasn’t sure would keep my family together. But the look in both of their eyes told me this was planned, but before I could get the words out I was locked away and the version of me in my place started flirting with Viviane and the last thing I saw was my body walking out with her and going to her place.


Amelia’s pov

For the first time since Pat left I woke up feeling more alive than I have in the past year. I went through my normal morning routine and got ready for school. I was surprised to see my dad in the kitchen drinking coffee.

“Morning, dad. I thought you would be at the office already” I said, looking at him confused because I haven’t seen him in the mornings since Pat left.

“Morning, honey” he said, smiling back at me “I just wanted to see my girls before heading to work” he said, as my mom walked into the kitchen with a smile on her face. One I haven’t seen since Pat left.

‘This is weird’ I couldn’t help, but think to myself.

“Morning, my love. Morning, honey” she said, kissing my dad and acknowledging me.

“Morning, mom” I said, pouring a glass of orange juice. I also couldn’t help, but smile at the interaction between my parents that I haven’t seen in awhile. I finished my orange juice and grabbed my keys and headed to school, but not before I heard my mom’s soft moan.

‘Ew’ I shook a little as I closed the door.

“I swear it’s like something has possessed my dad or something” I told Lydia as we sat in the school parking lot before the bell.

“Maybe he saw what he was missing out on” Lydia said, looking at me confused.

“Maybe. It was still gross to hear them before leaving” I said, making a face at the memory.

“That I can agree with” she said, laughing at my face as we gathered our things and started walking towards the school. There was still something about my dad that was bothering me, but I couldn’t dwell on it too long because I felt like I was being watched and when I turned around I saw a guy standing by his car looking directly at me. I basically ran inside the school.

3:00pm after school

When classes were done for the day I was relieved to find the guy gone, but it still creeped me out.

“Are you okay? You’ve been skittish all day” Lydia asked me as we walked to our cars.

“Not really. I found some creepy guy watching me this morning” I said still looking over my shoulder.

“That’s kind of scary, Amelia” she said, looking at me concerned.

“I know. I’m going to go ahead and go. I’ll text you when I get home.” I said, hopping in my jeep and headed home. I noticed a car following me after a couple of blocks.

“Oh, hell no” I said, seeing Kamryn’s garage up ahead I made a last minute decision to turn in. I jumped out and ran smack into Kamryn.

“Woah there. Where’s the fire?” he asked, jokingly until he saw the look on my face. “Amelia, what’s wrong?” he asked his hands gripping my forearms.

“I was being followed and then this guy was watching me at school and I didn’t want to lead him to my house” I said, rambling before he shushed me.

“Amelia, breathe. You have to slow down and breathe for me” he said, looking into my eyes as I calmed down “Good. Now come on inside so I don’t have to worry about you passing out on me” he said, guiding me to the shop’s office.


Kamryn’s pov

It surprised me when Amelia pulled in and when she ran smack dead into my chest I thought it was a joke until I saw the fear in her eyes and I knew something was wrong. After I got her to the office and calmed down I had her explain again what happened that made her drive in here like a bat out of hell. I wasn’t expecting her to tell me she was being followed and honestly that made my blood boil. When she was done I didn’t realize that my fists were clenched so tight it took her cupping my face to relax, but I didn’t miss the fear in her eyes as they looked into mine.