Page 128

Blaire’s eyes went wide. “No, oh no, you shouldn’t have done that.”

“Why not? You look smokin’ hot.”

Blaire muttered under her breath and retreated into the dressing room, changing back into her jeans and flowy black blouse with a chain accent at the neckline.

“So, have you had any more dreams like before? Do you think it’s your bond?” Riley called from outside the dressing room.

Blaire sighed and sat down on the seat in the dressing room, slipping on her black flats before coming out. “I haven’t had any dreams like that since all this started happening with the Order and my stepbrother. As far as the bond… I don’t know, Riley.”

“It could just be the stress that’s keeping you from having the good dreams.” Riley snatched the dress out of Blaire’s hands and walked toward the register. “This dress will be perfect to wear to Haven when we go again.”

“I’m not sure I want to go back there again, honestly.” Blaire trailed after her.

Riley turned and frowned at her. “Look, Caleb isn’t going to show up there anymore. You can’t run from every place where something bad happens. Soon there’ll be no place left for you to enjoy your life.”

She knew that. It wasn’t something she liked to dwell on. The ghosts of negative events were one of the reasons she originally planned to leave Rosebrook Valley.

“Blaire?”

Blaire froze at the familiar male voice behind her. Riley spun around and stepped closer to her side. Swallowing hard, Blaire turned around.

He looked terrible, sitting in a wheelchair with a busted and bruised face, with a cast that went up to his thigh and another on his arm. An older man stood behind him, likely a worker assisting him.

“Caleb…” she croaked.

“Let’s go,” Riley said, tugging on her arm.

“Hey, wait. What’s wrong?” Caleb asked, looking genuinely concerned.

Did he not remember? Had the professor been right? She had to know for sure. This would be the only way she’d ever feel comfortable in Rosebrook. She needed to know if she could truly trust their words.

Blaire shook her head, pulling her arm from Riley. “What happened to you?”

Caleb grinned sheepishly and rubbed the back of his head with his good hand. “Car accident. I was going too fast coming back from Atlanta and… yeah, it wasn’t pretty.”

Blaire nodded tightly.

“I’m so glad I saw you when we were passing the store from the street. I was just going to get some last things I need before tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?”

“Yeah, I wanted to be able to see you before I left, but I didn’t think it was going to be possible with my hospital stay. It’s hard enough being out like this, but business waits for no one.” He sighed. “I’m sorry, Blaire, but we’re not going to be able to meet on Sundays for brunch anymore.”

Riley gaped like a fish and Blaire had to compose herself. He sounded nothing like the Caleb she knew.

“W-why not?” she hedged.

“There’s a new branch opening in Seattle. Grandpa wants to extend the business to the West Coast and wants me to head the entire operation. I leave tomorrow.”

This was too good to be true. He didn’t know anything. Professor Velastra told her the memories of his attraction and his intentions to be with her were taken away, as well as his grandparents’ knowledge of that. She said they’d even wiped Ricky’s memory of Caleb’s bribery to keep tabs on her. The vibes coming off Caleb felt completely different—as though he were a just a classmate.

“I see,” she said quietly, not sure what to say to the news. It was hard to pretend he hadn’t been the big bad who made the last two years a living hell.

Caleb glanced around and grimaced. “So, I need to get going. Won’t be long before I need more pain medicine, and I still need to buy new suitcases.” He motioned toward the door, and the older gentleman took hold of the back of his wheelchair. “Maybe I’ll see you next time I’m in town, if you haven’t already graduated Blackthorn and moved off into the world.” He offered her a bright smile.

“Yeah, you… take care of that.”

As the man wheeled Caleb away from them, Blaire stood speechless.