“Sorry about that,” she says, pausing beside me. “Everything good?”
“Yeah,” I manage.
“Oh, yeah. I actually have a thing I have to get to,” Darcy says, smiling at me. “I was just telling Bonnie I’d see her again after Radio Eleven.”
“Yeah, yeah, yeah,” I say as if it’s the truth. “I’ll… I’ll see you then.”
“It was good to meet you,” Darcy says, and Gemma takes their outstretched hand again.
“Ah, yeah. Same to you,” Gemma replies.
Darcy looks between us as they back away. “Three weeks, Bon,” they say as they turn on their heel. “See you then.”
“Bye, Darcy,” I call out.
Darcy disappears into the parking lot, and I blow out another audible breath, letting my head hang back, the sun basking heavily on my skin.
“Are you okay?” Gemma asks.
No.
Someone called me.
Someone threatened me.
The people who hurt me that night are back.
I need help. I shouldn’t be alone.
These are all things I should be saying to her, words that I shouldn’t be ashamed to say out loud.
“I don’t want to stay here all week,” I eventually say.
“Okay,” she says, shifting on her feet.
“I just… I need my family,” I say as I turn toward her. “I don’t feel safe in my own head. And I realize how fucking weird that sounds—”
“You don’t have to explain anything to me.” She reaches for my cheek and swipes away a tear that I hadn’t even realized fell. “We can do whatever you need. Do you want to go today? Tomorrow?”
“The next day,” I say. “My dad is driving up to meet me for lunch tomorrow. I don’t want him to have to drive so far out of the way. One more day is fine.”
Her jaw flinches like she’s swallowing. “Did something happen?” she asks.
I consider telling her. I need to. Iwantto.
But god, I don’t want to see the look on her face when I do.
I don’t want her to be one more person who looks at me like I’m fragile.
“No,” I lie. “No, I just… I think I need the guys,” I say.
“Do you want me to ask Kade and Liam to move your things?”
My eyes drop to the ground behind her, and I contemplate that decision.
I have you.
I’ll take care of this.
