“I’ll be downstairs.

You have to do it alone, because if I’m in the room he’ll watch my face to know how to feel, and this one has to be yours.”

Chapter 12 — Riverdale Avenue

Noah read all thirteen in one night and did not sleep, and asked to meet her, and Julian made the call because I asked him to, because he is better on the phone than I am and because I did not trust my voice.

We drove up on a Sunday in November.

Chloe, Noah, and me.

Noah wore a collared shirt he chose himself and I have thought about that shirt more than I want to.

Alma Salas lives on the fourth floor of a brick walk-up.