29. Evalee

EVALEE

I don’t know how long I stand there, sobbing my eyes out, before Hunter eventually comes down to check on me. He takes one look at my hot mess of a face and wraps his arms around me.

“I’m so sorry, baby.” He hugs me, smoothing his hand up and down my back.

Tears stream from my eyes as I press my cheek against his chest. Everything hurts. My brain. My body. My soul. Ryleigh may have been my fake sister, but I still cared about her—still do. I don’t want to deal with the pain right now. Can’t. I’ve felt too much pain in the last few days, and I feel like I will fall apart at any moment.

“Baby?” I ask in an attempt to distract myself from the pain. “Why do you keep calling me that?”

“I honestly didn’t realize I was.” His tone is a mixture of perplexity and intrigue.

I clutch onto the bottom of his shirt, and he runs his fingers up and down my spine. “It’s weird you keep doing it.” I suck an uneven breath, fighting back the tears that want to pour out. “That’s what Ryleigh’s boyfriend used to call her all the time.”

Ryleigh . I choke on the name.

My heart is breaking in half.

“Hmmm …” is all Hunter says, pressing me closer to him.

“You’re acting weird,” I whisper. “Is it …? Is it because we shared magic?”

“Maybe.” He sounds completely doubtful.

“What else could it be?”

Instead of answering, he hugs me closer until our chest are pressed so tightly together I can feel his heart hammering. I wonder why. I wonder a lot of things. Instead of asking questions, though, I end up sobbing my heart out, and Hunter holds me tightly against his chest the entire time, rocking me back and forth while he traces a path up and down my spine with his fingers. It almost makes me forget he isn’t my real friend.

Almost.

“How about we get you upstairs to bed?” he says after I’ve cried for what feels like forever, yet somehow not long enough. “I’m sure you’re exhausted.”

“Yeah, I am.” I dry my eyes with the back of my hand then step out of his arms. “Just give me a second, okay?”

I turn toward Ryleigh’s body. “I’m so sorry I couldn’t save you. I wanted to so badly, but I … I failed you.” Tears fall from my eyes and land on her cheeks as I whisper, “I’ll miss you.” I give myself one last moment before I take a deep breath and turn away.

I meant what I said, too. Ryleigh may not have been my real sister, and I may have been angry at her for lying to me, but I’ll miss her with all my heart and will always feel guilty for not saving her.