Page 138 of Just One Kiss

And for what?

“Is this what you think a real man does?” Josh moved away from his father. “You think a real man beats his wife and kids? Does a real man convince his son he is the reason his brother is dead?”

“Joshua, please.” His mother reached for him, but he tore his arm away.

“No!” he shouted. “You were a part of this too. You knew what it did to me—thinking it was my fault, what happened to Dylan. You knew—” His voice broke and tears flooded his eyes. “And you did nothing.” He choked out the last words, wishing he were stronger, wishing he were emotionally detached the way he’d worked so hard to be.

“Are youcrying?” His father faced him.

Josh pressed the heels of his hands into his eyes and forced himself to pull it together. He shook with anger, with disbelief. He’d lost everything because of a lie. He’d lost Carly because he’d convinced himself he was exactly like his father—because what he’d done to Dylan proved it. Because he didn’t want to risk hurting his own son the way he thought he’d hurt Dylan.

And it had all been a lie.

He glared at his father. “For as long as I live, I never want to see you again.” He looked at his mom. “Either of you.”

And he stormed out of the house and into the street, back to the safety and quiet of his truck, but he found no peace there.

Would he ever find peace again?

35

Josh wasn’t responding.

Not to her texts. Not to her phone calls. Not to her voicemails.

It had been hours since she’d left Sunday dinner, and now Carly’s mind had turned into a jumbled mess.

Why had she defended him at all? It was obvious that if Josh really reentered her life, she’d spend it wondering if this disappearance was his final goodbye.

It was no way to live.

Maybe that was why she’d spent the evening Googling jobs in Colorado.

Now who’s the one running?

She shoved the thought aside, then picked up her phone and scrolled through her messages to Josh. If anyone found his phone, they’d think she was a crazy stalker—she’d even driven by Josh’s parents’ house. Twice.

But nothing. No sign of him anywhere.

Had he left for good?

She took a long breath, like a drag on a cigarette, and her nerves settled for a moment. “God, I have a really bad feeling something’s happened. Please let him come to us if he needs us—he needs to stop running.”And please let him be okay.

She’d just popped a bowl of popcorn when there was a faint knock at the back door. She pulled the melted butter from the microwave and listened—unsure she’d heard the knock at all. It was rare for anyone to enter her house through that door.

Seconds later, another knock. This one a bit louder.

She set the butter on the counter, walked to the door, flipped on the outside light and found Gloria standing there.

The older woman wore big sunglasses and a coat, and something seemed decidedly off. In her entire life, Gloria had never paid Carly an unannounced visit. In fact, Gloria had only ever been in Carly’s house a handful of times, and usually for some family gathering celebrating Jaden.

“Gloria?” Carly opened the door. “Is everything okay?”

Slowly, Josh’s mom drew her eyes upward to meet Carly’s. Her face and neck were red and splotchy, the same way Jaden’s got when he was nervous or upset.

“What’s wrong?”

“I’m sorry to bother you.” Her voice shook. “I thought the back door would be safer.”

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