Page 145 of Where We Stay

His eyebrows climb. “Well, your day just got better.”

I follow his line of sight.

Blair stands inside the shop.

One look at her face tells me it absolutely fucking didn’t.

I drop the rag onto the workbench and cross the shop toward her. “What happened?”

Her eyes flick toward Knox.

He looks between us and lifts both hands. “Right. Suddenly remembered I have literally anything else to do.”

Knox disappears into the back of the shop.

Blair waits until he’s out of earshot before looking at me again.

“It’s Monday. Shouldn’t you be at school, baby?” I ask. “What’s going on?”

“Principal Derek gave me an hour for a personal emergency.” She draws in a breath. “I needed to tell you something in person.”

There’s something in her voice that has every muscle in my body tightening.

“Okay.”

“It’s about Courtney,” Blair says quietly.

Fuck.

Of course it is.

My brows pinch together. “What about her?”

Blair hesitates. “She asked your dad for money.”

I stare at her.

Not because I don’t believe her.

Because I do.

Immediately.

And somehow that’s worse.

“Your dad didn’t tell me,” she adds quickly. “I wasn’t asking questions or digging into your family’s business—”

“Blair.”

She stops.

“I know you weren’t.”

Her shoulders drop slightly.

I curl my hands into fists at my sides, using every piece of restraint I have not to punch a hole through the fucking wall.

“How much?” I ask, dragging a hand down my face.