But this was so much worse. He’d taken my heart with him.
“Madeline,” I said, impressed at how calm my voice sounded. “That night with Neal, where did you two go?”
“Ruby’s Diner, the one with the green sign.” Madeline paused, the silence of the room filling me for a moment before she spoke once more. “He seemed to know her pretty well.”
I nodded, clearing my throat. “I’m sure he does; he had a whole life before us.”
And apparently, he would have after us too. I blinked rapidly, ignoring the pinpricks of tears that threatened.
“Church, can you stay here for a bit?”
“Mom, for the last time, I don’t need a babysitter.”
But I looked at Church, seeing my friend, not just our security. He must’ve seen something in my expression because he nodded immediately.
“I’ll be right back, okay?”
I didn’t wait for a response. I just picked up my bag, threw a coat over my shoulder, and marched to the front door. It wasn’t until I stepped out into the frigid evening air that I realized what I was doing.
I was getting him back.
***
Neal
Fuck this day. My blood pounded in my ears as I stared down at the onslaught of issues we were still facing.
And that was even before I considered what a mess I’d left at home. I’d snuck out, in the dark, like a fucking coward, taking her car and credit card for emergencies. I had meant to be home within the hour, so at the time, I thought that it would be nothing.
But now, as the sun set behind the Chicago skyline, I realized just how screwed I was. I might have been living on the streetsbefore, but I was a criminal now. And I’d stolen from the one person in the world who had complete trust in me.
In short, I’d thrown my life away. All for one stupid secret, which was currently saturated in several hundred gallons of water. Running a hand over my wet, cold hair, I pushed it back from my face. My cell phone had stopped working hours ago, after an unfortunate splash from the basement. My clothes were wet, I was soaked, and my heart ached.
“Mr. Crowe?”
I turned, looking at the young inhabitant and the reason for all of my screw-ups. Her name was Ellie. She and her two little girls were part of Ruby’s system and the latest in a long line of people who stayed at what used to be my home while they waited for another safe place to open up.
I glanced around the living room. Of course, they hadn’t expected a pipe to break upstairs or the deluge of water that would go every which direction. But I knew that Ellie was about two seconds from running once again. That made sense, since she was currently hiding from a nasty ex-husband.
I didn’t interact often with the people Ruby put up in my house. But this was a special occasion, as Ruby was tied up all day, and it wasn’t as if I could let Ellie and her babies sit around in a soggy house. The people I’d called to start draining everything had left for dinner break, and all I could do now was stand as still as possible as Ellie moved closer.
Dark curls hung around a gaunt, anxious face. She was quite pretty, but even I could see the faint bruising along her cheekbone. My fists clenched for a moment, and I could nearly feel her hesitate. I needed to be careful. This woman was risking everything for her and her daughters’ safety.
“Thank you so much, Mr. Crowe. Ruby said you liked to stay detached, so I know this must be a lot for you.”
“It’s fine, Ellie, as long as you’re all safe.” One of the smaller rooms, where Ellie’s oldest, a miniature of her, had been sleeping, was dry. I’d already moved in the other dry mattress so they could all stay together tonight. They might not get much sleep crammed in there, but they would be safe and dry.
Ellie bit her lip, nodding as she retreated a little from the room.
“Neal?”
I turned so fast my boots almost caused me to stumble against the house’s still-wet floors.
I turned and saw her. My Penny standing there at the entrance to the house that I hated more than life itself. And not because of the flooding. I opened my mouth, my hands flying wide as if I might suddenly fall to my knees before her.
But she didn't give me the chance.
“Penny, I can explain,” I whispered.
