Ellie knocks on my door a moment later, poking her head in. “Al, I know you said you didn’t want to, but I think we should call the police,” she says again, and I sigh, moving to lie on the bed, trying not to jostle my ribs or face too much.
“It’ll make things worse, trust me,” I say, and I don’t need to look at Ellie to know she doesn’t agree with me.
“Please tell me how this can get worse? Your ex gave you a black eye after you filed a restraining order.”
I don’t say anything about my ribs. It doesn’t change anything.
Bradley’s warning rings clear in my mind, and I can’t be the reason Jack gets hurt. There’s a lot I can’t control, but I can control this. This isn’t what Jack signed up for.
“Will you stay with me please? I really don’t want to be alone right now,” I say, avoiding her question, but she doesn’t ask again.
“Whatever you need, Al.”
This isn’t how today was supposed to go.
But I guess that’s life.
You hit a high point, and then the only way left to go is down.
CHAPTER 38
Jack
I’m livid,going out of my mind with worry. Once we got off the plane, I checked my phone to see if Al sent me anything since I hadn’t heard from her all day, but instead, I had a series of messages from Seth that turned my blood cold.
Every single text and call I made to Al while we loaded into the shuttle back to Wilder went unanswered, and my brain immediately thought of the worst-case scenario.
The text Coop showed me from his sister made me feel a little better because at least I know where Al is, and she’s not alone. Still, I haven’t been able to catch my breath since I read Seth’s text about Bradley being served at the stadium in front of everyone.
Why didn’t Al tell me she was filing a restraining order? Did something happen she didn’t tell me about?
I’m taking the stairs two at a time, desperate to make sure she’s okay. I’ve been on autopilot, my anxiety radiating off me, but I know nothing will make it better. Not until I see Alondra for myself.
Why haven’t I heard from her? The only possible reason is something must’ve happened, and she didn’t want to be a fucking distraction from hockey. It’s the only thing that makessense to me, but it makes me angry because I’d prefer anything over the silence causing my mind to run rampant.
I knock on the door, the brutal chill in the air finally hitting me now that I’ve stopped moving, waiting for someone to answer.
The sound of the deadbolt makes me feel a little better, but I’m wishing the girls had said yes when Coop offered to install a chain lock for them last month. The way Macy looks at me after opening the door, tells me everything I need to know without her saying a goddamn thing.
Macy steps back to let me in, and my head is spinning. The adrenaline pumping through my veins isn’t helping me see clearly, but I can’t imagine it’s good.
“What happened? Why didn’t either of you call me?” I slip out of my shoes, dropping my keys on the counter as I wait for them to answer me.
“I wanted to, but Al asked us not to.” Ellie’s lower lip trembles, and she wipes her nose on the back of her sleeve.
“Jack, she’s sleeping,” Macy says, and I look around the apartment for any sign of what happened. I feel nauseous at the sight of the broken pieces of a barstool set inside a trash bag.What the hell did he do to my girl?
Why didn’t Al let them call me?
“Where is she?”I ask, my voice cracking, and Macy glances at Alondra’s door. I take a few steps, but Ellie darts in front of me, putting her hand up to stop me.
I’m trying not to take my fear and anger about the situation out on the tall blonde in front of me, but I need to see Al.
“Let Macy see if she’s awake before you barge in, okay?”
My vision blurs, and the crushing weight on my chest presses harder on my lungs, making it difficult for me to draw in a breath to calm myself while I wait for the all-clear.
How fucking bad was today if they’re stopping me from going in right away?
