He had always been remarkably good at reading my expressions, so I made a conscious effort to keep my face completely neutral as I walked up the wooden steps.

“You haven’t been answering any of my texts today, Hannah,” he said, his voice full of concern.

“I was busy running a few errands at the library,” I replied calmly.

“Is everything all right with you?” he asked, searching my eyes.

The question sounded so completely normal, coming from a man who had been my rock for five years.

I set my heavy shoulder bag down by the front door.

“Why wouldn’t everything be all right, Austin?”