89

ALAYNA

Silence falls over the house when Jason and Brandon’s cousins leave. Brandon is extremely affectionate, even more so than usual, but quiet. He is spooning me from behind on his bed, but neither of us can fall asleep.

I love how he keeps caressing my cheek and my hair.

“Do you want to talk about it?” I finally speak because the stillness is deafening.

“Were you okay back there?” he asks me instead.

“Yes, especially after what I found out.”

“I’m sorry if we had to force you to share. We didn’t want to place you in a compromising situation, but you had the missing piece. We kind of didn’t have much choice.”

“But it’s a good thing you did. I wouldn’t have known he’s a murderer. Honestly, I felt disgusted that I even tried to protect their identity just because of the short time I’d known them.” I just wasn’t sure about Evan, her son. He seemed like a good guy, but I don’t know anymore. “But was my statement helpful?”

“Very much,” he whispers. “I suppose I answered one of your milli