Chapter 16

Clara noticed Selina's car in the parking lot. She opened the passenger door, leaned inside, and caught a quick look at someone in the back seat. Not wanting to be rude, she didn't linger on the person, assuming Selina would introduce them when the moment came. Once she was in and had her seatbelt on, Selina stayed silent. A familiar voice came from the back seat. "Did you rest well, Clara?" Clara jerked her head up. She checked the rearview mirror and saw a face she knew all too well—Damon. They'd only been apart for a day, but he looked completely drained like he hadn't slept in ages. Even so, his gaze was steady and unwavering. For a second, a dozen words crowded Clara's mind, but she had no idea where to start. In the end, she said nothing. The car fell into silence. A moment later, Selina picked up on the tension. She glanced at Clara, then quickly tried to smooth things over. "Clara, this is your classmate Damon Croft. You remember him, right? He just got in from the airpo