Page 20 of Pastel Kisses

The porch light is on—Lennox’s doing, no doubt. He refuses to let it stay dark, as if keeping it on will guide Avery home.

Kamden is already on the back patio, setting out lunch on the furniture we’d bought for her. The same damn set Avery had been talking about ordering once the yard was finished.

She never got the chance.

We got it for her anyway, hoping—knowing—we’d bring her home.

I swallow against the lump in my throat as I step outside, the scent of grilled food wafting through the air. It should be comforting, but nothing feels right without her here.

Kamden glances up, giving us a tight nod. “Food’s ready.”

Jaxton drops into a chair, running a hand through his hair, while Lennox stands near the edge of the patio, staring out at the unfinished yard.

“Sarah’s still sniffing around,” I say, sitting down and grabbing a bottle of water. “I’m fucking sick of it. We need to tell her tofuck offonce and for all.”

Kamden lets out a sharp breath through his nose, his expression hard. “She’s waiting for us to crack. To let her in. She’s circling like a damn vulture.”

Lennox turns then, arms crossed over his chest. “I need something todo,” he mutters. “I can’t sit here waiting anymore.” His eyes flick toward the yard again, jaw clenching. “We were supposed to help her finish it anyway. Why don’t we just…do it?”

Jaxton leans back, rubbing his hands over his face. “You want to finish the yardnow?”

Lennox exhales sharply. “Why not? It was important to her. She planned it all out, had everything mapped out down to the last detail. The only thing left was the heavy work. It’ll give us something to focus on besides driving ourselves insane.”

I look out at the space, picturing Avery in her element—talking excitedly about plant placements, pointing where the rocks should go, rolling her eyes at us when we pretended not to know the difference between a hydrangea and a fucking weed.

We were supposed to help her with it.

It was supposed to behers.

Jaxton looks between us, then exhales, nodding. “Alright. Let’s do it.”

Kamden’s gaze flickers with something unreadable, but he nods too.

Lennox’s shoulders relax slightly, like he’s finally found an outlet for the frustration clawing at all of us.

It won’t bring her back.

But it’llkeep her here.

And until we get her back, that’s all we can do.

CHAPTER NINE

Avery

“A

very. Avery.”

The grating sound of my name being called pries me from the edge of sleep, dragging me back to reality like nails on a chalkboard.

“Hmm…” I groan, wondering when the hell I even fell asleep last night.

“I brought you something.”

Sarah’s voice registers, and with it, the sharp, jarring reminder of exactly where I am.

My eyes flutter open sluggishly, my body heavy, my reactions dulled. I feel like I’ve been buried under a weighted blanket soaked in cement.

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