#Chapter 62 – The Stakeout

Aimee was so stubborn in her blind defense of Brent. Was I the same with Joseph? I suspected I might know the answer, and it scared me. No, we had to be different, right? If we weren’t… If Joseph never changed… I couldn’t bear to think of it. Yet looking at Joseph’s necklace around my neck, all I could hear were Asher’s words, “Take that off.” For now, for my peace of mind, I unclasped the necklace and stored it in my top dresser drawer. Without it, I felt lighter. I rubbed at my sore neck where the chain had cut into my skin. With midterms creeping closer, I had been spending most of my free time outside of class and practice in the library, studying. Today, I spotted Nicole when I came in the door, and hurriedly went to join her at her table. We couldn’t talk too loudly in the library, so I whispered, “Hey,” as I waved hello. She looked at me with startled, wide eyes. “What are you doing here?” she asked too loudly. The librarian shushed her. Confused, I dropped into the