My grip tightens on the steering wheel.
“Hayes?” Her voice is small. Too small.
I ease my foot off the gas. “Yeah, sweetheart?”
She doesn’t usually flinch at pet names, but tonight she presses her lips together like they mean something different. Important. Too close.
“I’m… really embarrassed.”
“Why? You didn’t do anything wrong.”
“I should’ve handled it. I should’ve?—”
“No.” The word comes out sharper than I intend. She startles, and I force my shoulders to loosen. “Emmy, if I got the call and it was worse—if you were hurt—” I have to stop and breathe before I say something that gives too much away. “I don’t want to think about that.”
We pull up to her house. Her porch light is on, glowing soft gold across the snow. She starts unbuckling, but I get out first and round the truck before she can even open the door.
“Hayes, you do not have to walk me to the door,” she tried to deflect.
“I know.” I offer my hand anyway.
Her fingers are small inside my palm, and a little cold. But she relents and lets escort her to her front porch.
“My mom and sister are probably asleep,” she whispers. “I should get inside and take a shower just in case Evie wakes up. I don’t want her to freak out before I can explain.”
I nod.
“Thank you,” she says. “For… all of it.”
“You don’t have to thank me.”
“I do.” She rubs her arms. “I don’t know what I would’ve done if?—”
“Em,” my own voice comes out thick with emotion.
She looks up at me, eyes wide in a way I’ve never seen. Vulnerable. Bruised around the edges.
And something inside me pulls tight. I want to gather her in my arms and hold on to her. But I can’t. I won’t. We buried those feelings a long time ago.
Or at least I told myself I did.
“Are you sure you’re okay?” I ask again. “No dizziness? No headache?”
“I’m okay.” Her voice wavers. “Or I will be.”
I reach out and tuck that stubborn strand of hair behind her ear again. “Yeah. You will. You’re tough like that.”
She exhales like she’s been holding her breath since the flames started. “But will Dockside be okay?”
“It will,” I promise. “I’ll be there in the morning with Rhett. We’ll get it cleaned, check the wiring, replace the outlet, maybe a few others. Shouldn’t take long.”
She peers up at me with eyes full of hope. “You don’t have to do that.”
“I know.” I meet her eyes and let the truth slip before I can catch it. “But I want to.”
Her breath hitches.
I know if I don’t leave soon, I’m going to say something I can’t take back.
