But he truly hadn t meant for Joanne to end up here with him!

I didn t mean for this to happen, Dustin said quickly, fumbling his words. Joanne wanted some air, and Dolores and I were already out looking for you both, so she came along.

Dustin let out a light laugh and glanced over at Linsey before offering Dolores an ingratiating smile. It s always easier when there are more of us pitching in. We re all friends, after all.

But Linsey didn t flinch. She had seen how crushed Dolores had been over Dustin and wasn t ready to play nice.

Dolores, still nursing her hurt, turned away and didn t offer a single word in response.

Out of the group, only Joanne spoke in Dustin s defense. Her voice was smooth, her tone sweet. Dustin s telling the truth. I heard Ms. Brooks and Mr. Riley had gone missing, and I just wanted to help.

With an innocent smile, she turned to Linsey and added, I m really glad you re safe.

With a neutral expression, Linsey kept her eyes on Joanne, though a knot of unease had quietly taken root inside her.

There was something about the way Joanne s gaze lingered it hovered near Dustin but always circled back to her.

No matter how she looked at it, something about Joanne s attention felt out of place.

Linsey couldn t recall ever crossing paths with her before. There shouldn t have been a reason for any animosity. A sudden thought crept in was this about Haven?

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Maybe Joanne was lying in wait, playing the long game, and just biding her time to avenge her friend.

Whatever the reason, the energy in the hospital room had turned strangely off.

Moments later, Collin rinsed out the last of the shampoo from Gorman s hair and gave a short nod.

Thanks, said Gorman, taking the towel from his hand with a dry expression.

Without saying a word, Collin grabbed the basin and disappeared into the bathroom.

Dolores, meanwhile, looked like she had seen a ghost. Her wide-eyed stare wasn t aimed at Joanne or even Dustin it was locked on Collin and Gorman.

Linsey, what did you say to get Collin to help Gorman wash his hair? Dolores leaned in beside her, unable to resist whispering the question softly into her ear.

With a faint sigh, Linsey responded gently, You re reading too much into it. They re around the same age, and they ve known each other forever. Things between them aren t as hostile as you think.

Dolores blinked twice, clearly unconvinced. She kept her eyes on Linsey a moment longer, then exhaled like someone who had seen too much. You re too hopeful.

From her vantage point, Dolores saw things Linsey chose to ignore. Time and again, Collin and Gorman had clashed always circling the same battlefield: Linsey.

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