Page 37 of Secrets on Ice

"No heroes," I remind them.

Sully smirks. "I'll try."

"We’re serious," Cassidy warns.

"So am I," Sully tells her.

I know that look. If one of us comes running out in tears, Trevor and Kevin are about to have a very bad afternoon.

"Don't make me bail you out," I warn him.

Sully just smirks.

I squeeze Cassidy's hand one last time before we climb out of the SUV. Neither of us says a word as we walk up the path. The closer we get, the harder it becomes to breathe.

Cassidy reaches for the handle.

"No." I stop her. "I'll do it. This was my home. I should be the one to open the door for you.”

My hand shakes as I push it open and let myself in, like I have done a thousand times before. The smell hits me first. Coffee and freshly cut grass drift in through the open windows.

Home.

Or at least, what used to feel like home.

They're already waiting. Kevin is sitting in the living room with Trevor beside him. Neither of them moves to greet us, and we do the same. The silence stretches so long it almost becomes unbearable.

Kevin finally clears his throat. "Thank you for coming."

I stare at him. “It’s my home, of course I had to come back.”

His face falls as if he was waiting for me to say I missed him. He would be wrong. Cassidy quietly hovers beside me, neither one of us moves an inch. Trevor looks exhausted, he has dark circles under his eyes. Same with Kevin. A week ago, I would've cared. Now, I don't know what I feel.

Kevin points to the other sofa. “Please sit.”

"No." The word leaves my mouth before I even think about it. "I think we'll stand."

He nods once, looking awkward. "Okay."

Another silence.

Trevor rubs the back of his neck nervously. "We've had a week to think."

"So have we," Cassidy says.

Kevin looks at me. "I know nothing I say is going to make this better."

"Good." He blinks as if surprised by my bitterness. "Because it won't."

His shoulders slump. "I know."

I fold my arms across my chest. "So ... you wanted to talk."

He nods. "We owe you both the truth."

Cassidy laughs. "You owed us the truth years ago."

Nobody argues with her. Kevin looks at Trevor, then back at me.