The news that Raven’s parents’ house had burned down was absolutely shaking her to her core. It seemed impossible, like a bad dream come to life, and Raven was still trying to somehow wake up. Jake got dressed and then came out of the bedroom to find her still standing there, phone in hand, her eyes wide open and staring into the distance. She looked at him and her voice sounded strange in her own ears. “I don’t understand what happened.” Which wasn’t really true. She did understand all too well what happened—and yet—in another way she really didn’t. Her mind refused to accept that it was reality. As strong as Jake Novak always looked, for the first time, Raven struggled to take comfort from his strength. His brown eyes locked on her, his expression very serious but still calm, as if he could sense the troubles brewing under the surface and was treading cautiously. “Sometimes these things happen…”
