CHAPTER ELEVEN

Ben is totally back to normal on Saturday morning, but the swift change in mood has me suspicious, and I find myself looking for clues about what’s going on with him all weekend.

By Sunday night, I’m exhausted and haven’t come up with anything. I decide to go to bed early, since I’m working the early shift the next day.

I’ve just put on my coziest socks and cracked open a library book to read when I hear a noise outside.

It can’t be.

Can it?

I’ve been willing James to come to my window all week, and now, the one night I need a decent night’s sleep, he decides to show up?

I should punish him for how he treated me and ignored me, but my heightened senses mean I can hear him pacing back and forth in the yard, huffing his breath and cracking his knuckles.

He sounds nervous, and that intrigues me.

If he’s nervous, maybe it’s because he realizes he’s messed up.

And he’s working up the courage to apologize.

That alone has me interested enough to open the window.

I unlatch it