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    Stanley wasn’t nearly as calm as Riley. “Aren’t you worried he might actually die?”


    “He’d outlive you, no contest,” Riley replied, her voice steady and totally chill. “Don’t forget, besides pulling off a double major, he even sat in on med sses back then.”


    Stanley paused, processing that.


    Then it hit him. “Wait, are you saying he stabbed himself just to get Reba’s attention?”


    “Probably not,” Riley said, after hearing the whole story. “He’s never been one for putting on a wounded hero act. More likely, they argued and he just snapped.”


    “So you’re really saying he’s not gonna die?” Stanley was practically losing it. “That knife went in deep–this isn’t some scratch, he could actually be in trouble.”


    ‘Even if he’s gone off the deep end, there’s always a bit of reason left in him, Riley thought, cool as ever. “No way he’d actually finish himself off.”


    “Guy’s got a screw loose!” Stanley snapped, and he never usually called him out like that.


    Riley just shrugged, still chill. “Can’t argue with that.”


    “You really noting?” Stanley asked.


    Riley nced at Samuel, who was totally absorbed in his book. “Nah, Reba’s probably freaked out after everything. I need to help her calm down.”


    Stanley thought about how out of it Reba had looked earlier and didn’t push it.


    Anyone who crosses paths with a maniac like Jeffrey could use a bit offort.


    Reba couldn’t get that ring ssh of red on his white shirt out of her head. Her mood was in shambles.


    Tommy was driving in the front, and when he saw her face in the rearview mirror, he spoke up. “Ms. Jensen?”


    Reba didn’t move.


    She heard him, but her body just wouldn’t respond to anything.


    “You really don’t need to worry, Mr. Hanson’s a hundred percent gonna be fine,” Tommy reassured her, dead serious. “Barry always says Mr. Hanson’s like some kind of god–like, he’s got plot armor or something.”


    “I’m not worried,” Reba replied tly, forcing herself to sound chill.


    She’d already steeled herself to shut him down, and she wasn’t about to let him know she cared–otherwise, who knows if he’d pull that psycho move again just to mess with her.


    He was straight–up out of his mind.


    So crazy, she honestly had no idea how to even deal with him.


    Iter threat was just a desperate move, hoping he’d finally back off.


    But he actually went and did it.


    “Didn’t you always say there aren’t any gods in this world?” Tommy looked like he had question marks floating above his head.


    “Yeah, there is,” Reba shot back.


    “Really? Where?” Tommy blinked.


    “Jeffrey is one,” Reba said, dead serious.


    Tommy blinked hard, his face basically a giant question mark.


    “Wait, isn’t that just Barry hyping himself up again?‘ he thought.


    Reba just kept looping that scene in her mind–when the knife went in. “The king of all maniacs.”


    “Honestly, that’s solid,” Tommy said, totally straight–faced and not even worried about Jeffrey. “Your take actually beats Barry’s. Next time we’re arguing, I’m bringing this up just to one–up him.”


    Tommy kept the conversation flowing the entire ride,unching into random topics without missing a <i>beat</i>.


    Every subject he threw out there had himing off as a little entric, but he was clearly having a great time.


    Reba waspletely spaced out the whole way. She only started to settle down as they neared home, double–checking her clothes–and feeling a little relieved that Gregory had watched like a hawk to make sure every bit of blood was cleaned off before they got in the car.


    She honestly had no clue what she’d even say if Samuel saw her like this. Just thinking about it made her stomach twist–how could she ever exin all this mess to him?


    Even though she hadn’t meant for anyone to get hurt.


    In the end, it was still her hand that reached for the knife. That fact alone was heavy enough.


    Samuel might act like he’s fine and wouldn’t me her, but Reba knew he’d be hurting inside… and that just made her feel even worse.


    “Ms. Jensen, we’re here,” Tommy said as he stopped in front of the vi. “If you need anything at all, just let me know. I’ll be right outside, waiting for your call.”


    Reba shook her head. “No need, just head back to Jeffrey.”


    Tommy’s brain always worked in mysterious ways. “Wait, are you actually worried about Mr. Hanson?”


    Reba hesitated mid–exit, then tossed over her shoulder, “I just don’t like being watched all the time.”


    10:46 Fri, <b>Oct </b><b>3 </b>


    :


    She stepped out of the car, staring at the open vi door, her chest feeling tight.


    It was alreadyte.


    She had no idea if Jeffrey was out of danger yet.


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    “You’re back?” Riley stepped out, her gazending on Reba just like always. “Stanley told me what happened at the hotel. Did it freak you out?”


    Reba looked at her, her feelings all tangled up inside.


    Riley walked over and gently smoothed Reba’s hair. “What’s wrong?”


    Reba bit her lip, hesitating before finally asking, “You guys… you don’t me me, do you?”


    They didn’t know the whole story.


    They had no clue what she and Jeffrey had talked about.


    Most folks would say, “No matter how bad the fight gets, you don’t go waving knives around. Especially not with Jeffrey–everyone knows how much trouble there’d be if something happened to him. It’d be chaos.”


    And then, of course, they’d point fingers at her, acting like it was all on her.


    Riley shed her an easy smile, totally chill. “None of us are trying to mess with your head–so why’re you already putting yourself through the wringer?”


    “I just…” Reba mumbled, her stomach twisting up. “The more they act like it’s no big deal, the more messed up I feel about everything, she thought.


    It was supposed to be just a talk about whether to go back or not.


    And somehow, it spiraled into pulling a knife.


    “We all know how Jeffrey is–pulling insane stuff like this is totally expected from him,” Riley murmured, giving Reba’s head a gentle rub. “But you? Seriously, don’t let it weigh you down. If anything, he ought to fork over some cash for traumatizing you like that.”


    Reba nced up at Riley, her eyes a little uncertain.


    Riley went on, “He did seriously scare you, after all.”


    Reba looked down again. “Thanks,” she muttered.


    “Hey, mind if I crash at your ce for a couple days?” Riley asked, giving her a half–smile. “Just as a guest. No Jeffrey drama, promise.”


    “Sure, I’d be d to have you,” Reba said.


    Riley headed inside with her.


    D


    As soon as Samuel saw her, he toddled over and wrapped his little arms around her, his voice soft and sweet. “Mommy, where did you go? Why did you leave so fast?”


    Reba had literally just been snatched away, and Riley walked in right on her heels,


    So Samuel didn’t really think anything of it.


    “It was just a little thing, sweetheart. I won’t rush off like that again,” Reba reassured him gently.


    Samuel didn’t ask any more–he just quietly held onto her. <fnedb7> ???s ??????? ?s ?????? ?? Find_Novel(.</fnedb7>


    For a while, Samuel was off in his own world with his book, while Reba just zoned out on the couch–her mind kept reying scene after scene, all the ways things could go wrong, and there was no shutting it off.


    “Worried?” Riley asked, dropping down next to her on the couch.


    Reba didn’t say a word, but her silence said it all–she was way too anxious to even pretend otherwise.


    Riley wasn’t like Tommy at all.


    Reba would never let Jeffrey know how she was really feeling.


    “He won’t die,” Riley reassured her. “You, of all people, know what he’s like.”


    She did know.


    But her mind and heart just wouldn’t listen–no matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t shake the thought: ‘What if he really doesn’t make it?‘


    “Riley?” Reba called out softly.


    “Yeah?” Riley replied.


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    “I remember you and Jeffrey grew up together, right?” Reba asked.


    “Yeah, me and Stanley both,” Riley said.


    “When we left the hotel, Stanley mentioned that ever since everything happened back then, Jeffrey’s been shutting himself off,” Reba finally asked, her curiosity winning out. “So… what exactly happened?”


    Riley paused.


    For once, heridback expression wavered, the hint of something troubled passing through.


    But just as quickly, she shrugged it off, her voice going back to normal. “His best friend died.”


    Reba’s heart twisted.


    She remembered the photo Stephen had shown her.


    Jeffrey, just sixteen or seventeen, sitting on the floor in a bloodstained white shirt, his eyes empty and lifeless,


    10:46 Fri, Oct <b>3 </b>


    slumped against the wall–utterly broken and alone.


    “Was it when he was barely seventeen?” Reba asked, her voice barely above a whisper.


    “Yeah,” Riley replied quietly.


    “How did he die?” Reba pressed, her heart sinking.


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    “He jumped,” Riley said, her voice barely audible, a flicker of something unreadable shing in her eyes. “Jeffrey was the one who found his body and took care of the funeral.”