“We’ll be quick. I promise,” I said, pulling him to sit up.
He yawned. “Can I bring my tablet?”
He was attached at the hip to that damn thing.
“Yes.”
He sighed. “Okay,” he conceded as if he had a choice.
I made sure to double-check our surroundings before getting out of the car. I grabbed Aiden’s hand and pulled him in close to me. He was so tuckered out that he didn’t even protest as I held onto his hand.
Instead, he laid his head against my hip, falling in line behind me a little.
I nearly had to drag him across the parking lot toward the bar. Also, I had to push thoughts aside of what a terrible mother I looked like pulling a young child inside a bar.
It wasn’t like I had another option.
Harlington was the last place I wanted to be. It took sixteen years to get me back there, and as soon as I passed the sign that readWelcome to Harlington, my heart rate doubled. I wanted to slam on the brakes and turn right back around and make a beeline for the airport.
But I couldn’t do that. I came back for Aiden. Because I needed to save my son, I wouldn’t let my fear of my past stop me. His needs were more important than my fears.
Besides, I planned to be in Harlington for only a few days. A week tops.
The chances of me running into anyone I knew was slim to none.
“You can do this, Savannah,” I whispered to myself.
I paused in reaching for the door, hearing the music coming from the other side. I just needed to use the phone in the bar, or at least find an outlet where I could charge my phone to call for help with my rental car.
The volume of the music doubled as I stepped inside, along with peals of laughter. I gulped and pushed myself forward but came to a stop when I caught sight of a familiar face.
I recognized Gabriel Townsend immediately. His eyes widened and then narrowed as his expression went from surprise to a hard mask.
Right then, the only sound I could make out was my heartbeat. It drowned out all background noise. Time stood still.
Gabriel Townsend, my brother-in-law. He was just a boy the last time we were this close.
It suddenly felt as if the entire room stopped to turn and look in my direction.
Slowly, I let my gaze travel over the rest of the room. That was when I realized this wasn’t any ordinary night out at the bar. The streamers and signs congratulating Lena Clarkson on her album’s success hung in the distance.
I blinked, and Lena Clarkson herself stood before me. I knew her music well and was a big fan. Under any ordinary circumstance, I would’ve been elated to meet her.
This wasn’t an ordinary situation.
I could feel Gabriel’s eyes on me, but even his glare wasn’t what had my heart pounding and my blood pressure rising.
I could feel his brother nearby. Ace was somewhere in the room. The way the hairs on my arms and neck stood up and the zap of electricity in my stomach were my indications.
It astounded me that, even after all of these years, I could still feel him whenever we were in the same room.
I wouldn’t allow myself to look around to search for him. No matter how much I wanted to see his face.
I kept my gaze on Lena.
“Oh, I’m sorry, I didn’t realize this was a party.” I paused, forcing myself to remember why I was standing there in the first place.
Aiden.My subconscious whispered to me, reminding me. I blinked. “I-I just need some help.” I didn’t know why I phrased it that way. I meant to ask for a phone.
