Betrayed, I Rise novel · Chapter 9 of 32

Chapter 9: The Reunion

The RV came down the dead end at ten the next morning.

I heard it before I saw it. The engine, and then a horn playing the first notes of a song we'd danced to at prom.

The whole yard stopped working.

It rolled up to the gate with Skylar's twelve-foot face on the side, and it barely fit between the fences.

One of the mirrors scraped the chain-link with a long screech.

The welder muttered something I won't repeat.

Skylar hopped out first, filming.

She had on white shorts and sunglasses and a face made up to look like she'd been crying.

"Okay, guys," she whispered to her phone. "We found her. This is the reunion. I'm so nervous."

Two people in turquoise Coastline shirts climbed out after her with a real camera and a boom mic.

Then Vincent.

He was carrying flowers. Grocery store roses, still in plastic.

He walked right up to the gate where I was standing and dropped to his knees on the concrete.

"Carly," he said, loud enough for the mic. "I messed up. I'm so sorry."

The sound guy lifted the boom a little higher.

"It was a stupid joke that went too far. I love you. I've loved you since we were kids."

"Please come back and finish this trip with us. We're nothing without you."

Skylar wiped her eye with one knuckle, careful of her mascara.

The eleven men of Hatcher Marine were standing around the yard with sandpaper and tools in their hands, watching.

Troy was on the office steps with his arms crossed.

I looked at the roses.

They still had the price sticker on them. $9.99.

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