There’s no way I can keep my emotions buried so deep for long. As it is, I’m surprised it’s working. But it takes too much concentration, and sooner rather than later Adela is going to wonder why I’m so closed off from her, and she’s going to want to investigate why that is.

“Aerin?”

Mack’s hand on my arm startles me, drawing me back to the present.

I turn to find him studying me with his eyes creased with concern.

“Yeah?”

“You okay?”

I force a smile I don’t feel on my face. “Sure, fine.”

Although Adela stops wrapping to glance up at me, she doesn’t call me a liar,...