Page 36 of The Risks of Reuniting

First things first: Circle of trust. No one tells my parents or Grandma Sue about this. It has to come from me.

Check out my first set of stitches. Chloe – one. Peruvian thugs – zero. No purses were stolen today.

I hope the cellphone angels are on my side and they get back to me soon. I have scattered cell coverage, and for all I know it'll just hang there in the airwaves until it eventually sends days after I meant for it to. I'm regretting my cheapskate ways. I should have sprung for the international plan.

I flop back onto my pillow and tears form in the corners of my eyes. It's late. The lamp is off and Rachelle is lying peacefully in her bed.

"Are you okay?" I ask her, feeling bad that I hadn't thought to ask until this moment. "I'm sorry I got so caught up inmyself and didn't ask."

She sighs. "Yeah. I don't think any of us are going to glide along like runway models tomorrow, but I'm alright." She hesitates. "I'm going to try not to be afraid to leave the compound."

I make a sound of agreement. "Me too."

"Hey, you don't have to talk about it if you don't want, but I didn't realize you and Holt had history. I thought you were simply acquaintances."

I take a deep breath. Can't blame her for asking. I'd want to know too. So, even though I'm so rung out, and emotionally in a cold void, I tell her the highlights story. She silently takes it all in, making sympathetic noises as I narrate. And when I'm done, I can see her shift in her bed to face me.

"That's a lot, Chloe."

I giggle. "So true."

"It explains why you're sometimes cold to him."

It's a valid insight. "I didn't realize it was noticeable. The way I keep him at a distance."

She laughs. "Oh, friend, it's noticeable."

Then we're both laughing, because it's sort of funny, but really we're releasing all the emotions our bodies have held onto since the mugging attempt. We laugh until my throat is sore, and the tears I'd been feeling come running down my face.

"Okay," she says, breathlessly. "But, explain to me why he isn't cold toward you? You'd think he'd be standoffish, or hold a grudge too. But instead he's, like, super chill about it all."

Hmm. My laughter dissipates as I think about it. "I have no idea why, but you're right. Why isn't he mad at me?" I shift my aching arm and move to my side, facing her. "He hasn't acted upset at all, just happy to see me from the moment we connected in Atlanta. Maybe it's becausethat's who Holt is. Life sort of rolls off his back, and he gets over things quickly."

"Well, he's not over you," she teases.

I sigh, and change the subject. Mostly because I need to overthink that a little. "Things could have been so much worse today."

"I've already said like ten prayers of gratitude," she admits on a yawn.

"It was terrifying." I burrow under my covers further and roll onto my back.

"Totally."

We fall into silence and I wish Holt was holding me. I always found comfort in that.

My phone buzzes with a text alert, and I'm so happy that more tears release, wetting my cheeks.

Dani

I'm at a loss! Please tell me you're okay!

Avery

It's starting to sound like you shouldn't be in Peru . . .

Poppy

What does the other guy look like??

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