“You can’t be here,” I said. “Avery’s coming over soon and she’ll go ballistic if she sees you.” “I won’t stay long. Ten minutes.” He reached for my arm. “Please. I need to talk to you.” I looked past him. Outside, the street was empty, but Avery could drive by at any moment. I closed the front door. “Ten minutes. Then you have to leave.” He nodded. “I need to sit down. I walked here.” I knew from where the school bus had dropped him off that he lived at least two miles away. With his limp, it should have taken Jared a long time to get to my house. I led him to the dining room, where he collapsed onto the sofa. “I don’t understand why you’re here,” I said. He was still trying to catch his breath. I felt bad for him, so I went to the kitchen and got him a glass of water. He drank it in one long gulp. “Thanks,” he said when he was finished. I stood across from him and waited with my arms crossed over my chest.
