She''d found like-minded friends in Lauretta, Katrina Greene, and Wendy Burke. Lately, she''d even gotten to know Neville, Marvin Connolly, Foreman, and Mr. Burton.<fna561> Chapters first released on find{n}ovel</fna561>


    There were plenty of people who couldn''t stand her, but honestly, just as many who liked her.


    Ste was about to say that both she and Abby could be his friends when Joshua''s voice cut in again.


    "Actually, there''s another reason I wanted you toe with me today."


    Ste lowered her voice, "What reason?"


    Joshua took a swig of beer. "Today''s my birthday."


    Ste froze. "Wait-today''s your birthday?"


    It hit her then she hadn''t prepared a gift.


    "I''m sorry," she said hastily. "I didn''t know. When we get back, I''ll make it up to you, I promise."


    Joshua just shrugged. "No one ever remembers my birthday anyway. Youing here with me is enough. Really."


    A pang of regret tugged at Ste. If she''d asked more questions when he first mentioned taking her somewhere, maybe he would''ve told her.


    She said softly, "I''ll remember your birthday from now on. You won''t have to spend it alone again."


    Joshua looked at her, his eyes shimmering like ake under a starry sky.


    "Really?" he asked.


    "Really," she replied without hesitation.


    He smiled, but his voice was wistful. "Someone once promised to spend every birthday with me. That didn''tst."


    Ste guessed he was talking about someone special from his past.


    She thought for a moment, then said, "You''re right. No one can really guarantee the future. So how about this-let''s just make a n for next year. Next year, I''ll be there for your birthday too. Deal?"


    For a moment, the serious lines of his face softened, as if washed in gentle moonlight.


    He nodded. "Deal."


    Then he stuck out his pinky finger. "Pinky swear?"


    Ste couldn''t help butugh.


    Keen always said pinky swears were childish, and he hadn''t done one with her in ages.


    Still, she extended her hand, linking her pinky with his.


    "Alright, pinky swear."


    A year seemed like such a short time. Ste thought, as long as he was still


    P by her side, keeping the nee


    promise would be easy  s


    She had no idea just how wrong she''d be.


    The night air had grown chilly, and it was gettingte.


    Joshua spoke up. "It''s gettingte. Let''s head back."


    Ste rose from the grass, already nning ahead-maybe she could reserve a table somewhere nice and treat Joshua to a birthday dinner. make up for not having a gift.  s


    It would take about an hour and a half to drive back to the city. She texted Aicken, asking him to take care of the arrangements.


    About half an hourter, Aicken replied: everything was set.


    Ste turned, ready to ask Joshua to set the GPS for the restaurant-when she caught the sudden tension in his expression.


    He said quietly, "Star, check your seatbelt. Make sure it''s fastened."


    Ste instinctively checked it. "It''s fine... Joshua, what''s going on?"


    Before she could finish, she


    glimpsed something in the rearvie


    mirror several cars, headlights 1/8


    tailing them silently.


    belongs to swn?vels


    They must''ve been there for a while; she''d only just noticed now that they were so close.


    She looked again, her stomach tightening. There were a lot of them.


    Joshua pressed down on the gas. "We''re being followed. Whoever they are, they''re not here to make friends."


    He''d barely finished speaking when a gunshot cracked through the night— shattering the side mirror.


    Suddenly, the car was peppered with bullets, each impact ringing out louder than thest.