47. Clarissa

I hugged Cade and Sylvanus goodbye, feeling a pang of sadness. Strangely, their home had become a sanctuary for me.

Sylvanus, with his kind eyes and gentle smile, had treated me like his own daughter, and I knew that I would always be grateful for his generosity.

"I'm a stone's throw away," Cade said to me, giving me a side hug. "Trust me, you'd get tired of seeing me in Cade's house."

The clock struck midnight. Jalen and Cade stepped outside to make sure the coast was clear. Jalen returned and gestured for me to follow him. He led me to a gigantic laundry basket and helped me inside, covering me with a huge blanket. I could feel the rough fabric of the blanket against my skin, and the smell of detergent filled my nose.

They picked up the basket and started walking toward the van. I could hear the sound of the wheels of the basket moving against the pavement and stifling my laughter as I was snuggled out of the house like a criminal.

I lay on the floor in the backseat of the van, t