Collin held the door open at the coffee shop, then ushered us towards the back and as far from the windows as possible. He slid into a chair, making sure he could see out the windows. Fire trucks, police cars and even an ambulance filled the street. The lights flashed, flickering off the windows of the other buildings.
“So what’s going on, Collin?” I asked, fear and dread filling my entire being. It all sat on my chest, heavy as a stone.
“There’s a bomb threat.”
“What?” That was impossible, wasn’t it?
“I’m assuming Alan is trying to get you to come out of hiding. He can’t get in there easily. Now, is there really a bomb? I have no clue. But someone pulled the fire alarm to get everyone out.”
Sawyer leaned against the back her chair, her eyes watching all the lights and action out the front windows. I, on the other hand, was warding off a panic attack. My head was fuzzy, my breaths choppy.
I could feel the world crashing in around me. I was suffocating with no way out.
“You’re safe, kiddo.”
“But what if no one had pulled the fire alarm? What if–"
“All that matters is that you are out of that building, Scarlett,” Collin said, looking me straight in the eyes. “That’s what matters. Nowhat ifs. I can’t say what Alan is doing, or even if this is his work. But no one will be hurt tonight. The police are doing a very thorough sweep of the building and will deem it safe or unsafe in an hour or so.”
“So we’re going to be stuck here? What about Hope?”
“The cat will be perfectly fine,” Collin said, slightly easing my worry. “She ran and hid somewhere. Like, under the bed.”
“But—"
“Hope will be fine,” Sawyer said, leaning against me. “If not, I’ll do whatever needs to be done to track her down later. So relax.”
I glared at her but kept my mouth shut. At least my worry about Hope made my panic take a backseat.
“So now what?”
“Well, since it’s already four in the morning,” Collin yawned, “if you want, we could head home.”
“Home?” Had I missed something? Home, the place that was right across the street, was being cleared, and there was no way I’d be able to get back in for now.
“Yes. Home. Go see your family?”
“Oh.”
“I know you aren’t that great a morning person, kiddo.” He seemed way too impressed by my lack of thinking so early. It wasn’t my fault. “I think going to see everyone is a great idea, even if it’s just for a few days. It’ll get the police time to make sure everything is good. Then I can bring you two back afterwards. Not a big deal.”
“What about our stuff?” Sawyer asked.
“Not a big deal for that, either,” I answered before Collin could.
“Her closet back there is full, so there are plenty of clothes. If not, I’ll personally make sure that you get some.”
“I say we go,” Sawyer said, seeming way too awake for such an early hour. “What could go wrong?”
“Oh, everything can,” I deadpanned. “But fine. Let’s go. Wyatt’s not that far away, so he can take care of Hope for me.”
“Just till Sunday. That’ll give you two and a half days. Unless you change your mind, of course.”
“I won’t.”
“I may,” Sawyer said, “because so far, every man I’ve seen in this family is smoking hot.”
“Sawyer!”
