Chapter 106

• I got home and Bryce’s words were still ringing in my ears, as some kind of delicious cooking smell hit my nose.
• “Hello? Anyone home?” I called, as I made my way down the hall. Kayla was at her mom’s – I didn’t get her back again for a couple days. My heart lurched at the thought and I realized with shock that – for the first time in a long time – I was actually missing her. Hanging out with her, Mary-Beth and Maddy in the kitchen the night before had been really fun. I’d felt like I had the old Kayla back, or, perhaps, the next evolution – the young woman she was growing into.
• “Hey, Alex!” came Mary-Beth’s voice. I followed it to the kitchen and found the door open, a baby bouncer attached to the frame. Maddy was in the bouncer, pushing herself happily up and down with her little feet.