Kennedy stood there, his eyes wide in disbelief. The door had creaked open just enough for him to see everything.

The color drained from his face. For the first time since I had met him, he didn’t smile.

“Ken,” I started, but he stepped back, like the word itself burned him.

“Don’t,” he said, his voice rougher than I had ever heard it. “Don’t call me that right now.”

He turned on his heel and walked out before I could move.

Joem swore under his breath, running a hand through his hair. “I will go after him.”

“No,” I said quickly. “If you go, it will only make it worse.”...