Chapter 26

[Six months later]

Erin stared up at Chris with pleading eyes. She knew she shouldn’t be here, but she could not think of anywhere else to go. Jasmine would have definitely informed her family about her whereabouts, and she did not want that. She shivered lightly from the cold. Apprehensively, Chris grabbed her hand and pulled her into his apartment before locking the door behind them.

“What in the world, Erin? What happened to you? Why didn’t you call? My goodness! Come sit,” he said, leading her to the couch. She followed him without responding to any of his questions and settled on the couch. Chris hurried up the stairs and returned some minutes later with a towel and a T-shirt in hand.

“There’s a bathroom to the right, down the hallway. You should go dry yourself up and change your clothes,” he offered, pointing toward a hallway to the right. Erin collected the items, offered him a forced but grateful smile, and then did as he said.

While she changed, Chr