Flashback ( PDFDrive )

“Thank you for thinking about me,” he whispered. “No one does
that.”
“Lots of people care about you, Keefe,” Sophie gently corrected.
He sighed. “I guess, but . . .”
“But what?” she asked when he didn’t finish.
He turned to study her for a long second before he shook his head.
“But I should let you get some sleep. Sounds like we have a big day
ahead of us.”
• • •
“So this is where Marella lives,” Sophie said mostly to herself as she
studied the sprawling structure. The domed roofs at varying heights
and the bougainvillea draping the walls reminded her a little of
pictures she’d seen of the Greek isles. But all the crystal and silver
made it look much more elvin.
“You’ve never been here?” Biana asked.
Sophie shook her head.
And for some reason—probably because Marella always looked a
little disheveled—she’d been imagining the Redek house to be a bit
more chaotic. Maybe even a little run-down. But everything was
immaculate. Neat rows of perfectly trimmed hedges. Vibrant flower
beds without a single weed. A square reflecting pool that was so
glassy, it looked like a mirror of the sky. Even the silver railings lining
the house’s numerous balconies gleamed like they’d just been polished
—though Sophie couldn’t look at them without wondering which was
the balcony that Marella’s mom had fallen off when she injured
herself.