Chapter 44: Sam

I wait for her to walk inside before silently trailing after her. My hands stay shoved in my pockets. I think we're both thrown off by the way I keep to myself. Her movements are stilted as she sets her bag down on the couch in the small common area in the suite.

Even though Mia doesn't appear to be home, we head to the privacy of her bedroom. Once inside, she settles on the edge of the bed before her gaze lifts to mine. Instead of dropping down next to her, I grab the chair from her desk and turn it around so I can face her.

The tiny spark of hope in her eyes dims as I continue to keep my distance. Violet may not realize it, but it kills me not to reach out and touch her. I want to hold her in my arms and make this all go away.

"Sam," her voice is scraped low and hollowed out with enough regret to leave me wincing, "I'm so sorry."

I search her eyes and shake my head, trying to wrap my mind around what could have possessed her to do something like this. "You took that photo