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He squints at me. “You’re a bad liar.”

I exhale and run my hand through my hair. “It’s a long story.”

Levi shoves his hands in his pockets. “Give me the short version.”

He’s not budging, and desperation builds inside of me. “I love her, and I don’t want her to leave,” I blurt out.

Levi grins. “I knew it.” He fake punches my shoulder. “You love her.”

“Yeah,” I say, feeling the time slipping away. “Can you watch Skyler?”

He narrows his eyes at me. “What makes you think she’ll leave?”

“That’s the long story part.”

“What did you do?”

I rake my hand over my hair. “I messed up last night. Said something I shouldn’t have. I need to tell her I’m sorry.”

Levi shakes his head at me. “Sure, I can watch her. Don’t screw this up. You and Kiki are good together.”

Skyler tugs on my jeans. “I’m done eating.”

I glance toward the table, and Kiki’s gone. My heart jumps into my throat. “Where did Kiki go?”

“To the bathroom.” She points to a sign that says public restrooms, and an arrow that points around to the back of a brick building.

“Levi’s going to get you a treat, then take you to the parade. I’ll meet you there, okay?”

Levi takes Skyler’s hand. “Do you want some cotton candy?”

Skyler grins up at him. “Sure, Uncle Levi.”

Levi takes off with Skyler and I sit down at the table. I look down the street, toward the restrooms.

“Can we talk?”

I turn around to see Noah, dressed in his uniform, a manila file folder under his arm.

“What’s up?” I ask.

“Where’s Kiki?”

“In the restroom. Why?”

He exhales and sits next to me. “I’m afraid I have some bad news.”

CHAPTER 34

KIKI EMMERSON

Ileave the restroom and walk down the street toward the tables where Skyler is. Except, when I get past the large building I see Skyler standing with Levi at a food truck. Tobias is at the table with Noah. Their backs are to me, and they don’t see me, but I can hear them talking.

“Someone called the station today,” Noah says. “They were looking for a woman matching Kiki’s description.”

I freeze. This can’t be good. I slowly back up to hide behind the building. I peek around the corner, straining to hear them.

“To make a long story short, I found out Kiki’s got a record.”