When I don’t answer, he tips my head back and makes me look at him. His gaze is steady as he studies me. Eyes locked on me in full concentration as if he can read all the words and sentences that I don’t speak.
I try to hide from him, but I know I can’t.
He’s always seen me.
27
HEATH
Hope is breaking inside.Not just breaking. She is fucking losing herself.
I see the haunted look in her eyes—filled with a wild mix of emotions. Sadness, humiliation and shame.
And it hurts me to see her like this.
She has this pain inside of her that is eating her alive but I can’t do anything about it.
I hear a door creak open nearby, followed by footsteps thumping through the quiet hallway just outside—the one that connects the garage to the house.
My parents are awake. From the dozen calls that Mom made, it's evident that she waited for when she saw me rushing out earlier. I didn’t have time to tell her to not wait for me—not that it matters since she waits for me anyway.
I swivel my head just in time to see my parents standing by the glass doors wearing confused expressions on their faces.
Hope’s back is towards them—for which I’m glad. I don’t want them to see her right now. BecauseI knows she is barely keeping it together right now. The last she needs is an interrogation.
Mom’s distressed gaze stays on us, while Dad frowns, studying me in detail.
“Is there someone behind us?” Hope asks shakily.
She attempts to turn her head but I prevent her from doing so. “Derek is passing by.”
I knew saying his name wouldn’t affect her as much as knowing it’s my parents who are glued to their spots and refuse to move away.
Much to my dismay, Hope doesn’t believe me. “Why is he staring? I can feel his stare on my back.”
I let out a groan. “It’s my parents.”
Her eyes widen and she looks like she’s about to have another panic attack.
For fuck’s sake.
I don’t want that.
One was enough to make me spiral.
“It’s okay. I’ll take care of them.” I assure her. “Give me a second.”
“No! Don’t leave me.” She grips my arm with a firm grip as tears well up in her eyes again. Eyes that I love so much. “I don’t want you to go.”
“Rose—”
A few tears fall and my heart twists painfully inside my chest.
Without a word, I tuck her in my arms and put my chin on the top of my head.
She’s incredibly sensitive tonight. I’ve seen her panic before, but this is different. She’s in so much pain, it is triggering her anxiety.
Bending down, I slide one arm beneath her knees and the other around her waist, then gently lift her into my arms, pulling her closer to me. Her arms loop around my neck and her face burrows into the crook of my neck, making it impossible for me to read her.
