“It’s… it’s the fire damage. I don’t even know how it started. The storm must have pushed something over the edge. The water’s coming in from everywhere, and I can’t fix it on my own. I don’t know what to do.”
There’s a brief pause, then she softens, more serious now. “Okay, okay. I’ve got you. I’ll send someone over to help.”
“I don’t want my parents toeverfind out that I’ve been here, Tee. They’ll?—”
She doesn’t let me finish. “Lo, it’s fine. I’ll take care of it. Don’t worry. I’ll send someone over to help you.”
My stomach flips. I don’t want anyone here. But what else can I do?
“I’ll get good people to help you. I promise. Just stay put and breathe.”
Then she’s gone, and my pulse is pounding erratically, my anxiety crushing me the way it always seems to as of late. What a freaking nightmare.
To make it worse, it doesn’t take long before there’s a knock at the door, and I freeze. My heart drops straight to my stomach as a sudden feeling of dread rushes over me.
I drag my feet across the floor, one step, then another, but my legs feel heavy as lead. When I reach the door, I hesitate, my hand hovering over the doorknob. Part of me wants to pretend I didn’t hear it, pretend this isn’t happening. But I’m already in this mess. It’s too late to back out now.
I swing the door open.
And there they are.
Beck, Ford, and Hayes.
The three men I’ve been trying to avoid most of all.
Why the hell has Tansy done this to me?
The entire damn pack stands on my front step, soaked from the storm, staring back at me with varying degrees of concern and confusion written on their faces.
For a moment, I just blink at them, stunned into silence.
“Lo?” Beck asks curiously. “Tansy called. Said you needed help?”
I swallow hard, trying to catch my breath. I don’t want them here. I didn’t want anyone here, butdefinitelynot them. I can feel my pulse pounding in my throat, the sharpness of my panic mixing with something I’m trying hard not to acknowledge.
Of all people, why them?
And why the hell did Tansy think sendingthemwas a good idea?
Ford shifts on his feet, his eyes scanning the dim hallway behind me, his hands shoved deep into the pockets of his rain jacket.
“Is everything alright?” he asks, and even though his tone is calm, there’s an undercurrent of worry there.
“Tansy said there’s a flood? What happened?” Hayes’s gaze flickers to my face, and I can see him trying to piece things together. “What’s going on?”
They’re all here. And I’m completely, utterly screwed.
I force a smile that could crack right off my face. “It’s just… It’s fine. Really. I didn’t think it would get this bad. The storm has caused a bit of a flood. There’s water, obviously.” My tone is too high-pitched. I know it. “But it’s nothing I can’t handle.”
Beck’s brows furrow, and his eyes flicker with the frustration I know all too well.
“Lo.” He says my name like a rumble. Like a warning. “Let us at least take a look.”
I want to shut the door. I want to slam it and pretend I’m alone, that I can fix this myself. But the water’s still creeping behind me, still rising with that steady sound of trickling anddripping, and I can’t keep up. They’re here, standing in front of me, and I can feel the pressure building. My pulse races at a blinding speed as the tension between all four of us thickens.
I open my mouth to protest, but the words die on my tongue. I can’t push them away. Not now. And I’m not stupid enough to pretend I can handle this on my own.
And then, there’s the other thing.
