ARLENE

“Arlene! Arlene, wait up!” I heard Cole call out as I walked toward the front door and quickened my pace.

I didn’t want to have any sort of conversation with him. He had done enough for one night, and I simply wanted to get as far away from him as possible. “Arlene!” He called out again, and I let out a frustrated groan.

“Leave me alone, Cole,” I said and reached for the front door. I turned the knob and pushed the door open.

Once outside, I let out a relieved sigh. It didn’t feel like everything was right with the world—my problems had clearly multiplied—but I could feel...