Amber’s POV Unable to handle Mary’s company anymore, I excused myself and retreated to my bedroom. There, I saw more missed messages from Julian. He called even as I was holding my phone, and I sent him to voicemail. I knew my anger at Julian was misplaced. He was with his mother who needed him, and couldn’t be where I was. It didn’t mean he didn’t want to be here, it was just that he couldn’t be. With the attacker caught, I still felt angry but my anger had nowhere to go. Aiming at Julian felt like the next logical choice, even though it wasn’t fair and I knew that. Maybe that was why I was really avoiding his calls. I didn’t want to be angry with him, and I knew hearing his voice would make things worse. Or it would have the opposite effect, and be so comforting that I would just br

