Chapter 8. A Brush With Trouble

2014

Amelia’s POV

A crash echoed through the hallway, sharp enough to send my pulse racing. I spun around, dinner plans forgotten, and hurried toward the noise, half-expecting a burglar.

Instead, I found my best friend sprawled dramatically on the floor of my bedroom, her familiar floral perfume filling the air.

“Kaylee,” I groaned, pinching the bridge of my nose. “Did you seriously just break into my house again?”

She shot to her feet with a dramatic bounce, dusting herself off like she hadn’t just tumbled in uninvited. “Break in? No, no, Ames,” she said, grinning. “This is called creative entry.”

I raised a brow. “Creative entry? You have a key. A perfectly functional key.”

Kaylee waved me off. “Where’s the fun in that? Windows have… charm. And, come on, you know it spices up your boring evenings.”

“Nothing about this is charming,” I said, but a smirk tugged at my lips. “One day, you’re going to get stuck halfway throug