Page 138 of Graves

I let Pixie down outside on the street. When I straighten up, Luke is standing right beside me.

“Can’t you carry the mutt? This is going to take forever.”

“This is Pixie’s usual walk route,” I explain firmly. “I’m not carrying her.”

I try to enjoy this last walk with her and be happy that she’ll be fine with Harriet. At the same time, I’m terrified of running into Aran. His apartment keys are still on my keychain, but I’ve decided not to stop by tonight.

Not because of him, but because of Luke.

Under no circumstances do I want Luke to set foot in Aran’s apartment—that wouldn’t end well. And asking Luke to wait outside… I can forget about that.

It’s just after six when we turn onto Aran’s street. The reporters have packed up, and the neighborhood is quiet again. I’m glad—for the neighbors, but especially for Aran.

Everything here feels so familiar.

It’s a good feeling. Nostalgia washes over me as I press the button for the fourth floor instead of the fifth in the elevator—the one that used to take me to Aran’s apartment.

Pixie is already excited and barks with joy as we walk down the hallway to Harriet’s door.

My heart grows heavy. I’m not ready to say goodbye to her, but I know I have to. If I want to work at the practice again, this is the only way.

Harriet is thrilled to see me and offers us tea, which Luke politely declines—maybe that’s for the best. The goodbye would have been even harder otherwise.

I hug Pixie one last time and promise I’ll pick her up next weekend.

With a heavy heart, I follow Luke outside and try to keep my feelings to myself as best I can. Luke never really liked animals anyway. I should probably be grateful he even let Pixie into his apartment.

It’s a mild spring evening, but I feel cold seeping in the moment we step onto the street, and the mood between Luke and me is tense.

But that’s probably because I’m emptier than I have in a long time. I remember what Luke once said to me long ago.

“If you can’t even take care of yourself, how are you supposed to take care of anyone else?”

I’m miserable.

Am I really incapable of taking care of myself?

When I notice Luke isn’t walking beside me, I stop and turn around. He’s standing frozen, staring at his phone and running a hand over his mouth in disbelief.

“Did something happen?” I ask, stepping closer. I already know this is probably the information he’s been waiting for.

Luke looks up at me and something in his face changes. I don’t understand what it is, but something shifts. His mood? His emotions? Either way, he’s scrutinizing me with different eyes.

I frown and wait for an answer.

“You…” Luke’s voice is deep and accusatory. “What did you do?”

The danger radiating from the man hits me like poison. I open my mouth to say something but only shake my head in confusion.

What did I do wrong this time?

“Did you really think you could hide this from me? That I wouldn’t find out?”

“What are you talking about?”

Luke walks past me toward the subway station. “How stupid do you think I am?”

“I don’t know what you mean.”