My jaw clenches again. “If he shows up, I’ll deal with it.”
“You mean we’ll deal with it.”
I look at him. Zephyr’s eyes are hard and determined. He’s always had my back, and it’s obvious he feels protective of Tigerlily.
“Yeah,” I say. “We’ll deal with it.”
I realize that’s all she needs. She needs time. Time to process everything that’s happened. Time to feel safe enough to breathe without looking over her shoulder.
She needs space, but not too much space. She needs to know we’re here, that we’re not going anywhere, but that we’re not going to crowd her either.
She needs a safe haven.
And I’m going to make sure she has one.
Even if it kills me to sit here and watch her fold in on herself, knowing I can’t fix it with a touch or a word or anything except time and patience.
So I let her be.
Because that’s what she needs right now.
Chapter Eight: Tigerlily
My laptop sits on the nightstand where I left it. I’m honestly afraid to open it, not knowing what’s waiting for me in my messages. My fingers tremble as I flip it open.
The screen glows to life. Three messages from Elle, each one longer than the last. My stomach drops before I even start reading.
Elle: So your dad came to my house and asked for you. He was nice at first and then he thought I was lying about you not being here, so he stormed inside my apartment looking for you. Zinnia was with him, and she looked scared. I couldn’t talk to her because she was on the verge of crying. Plus, your dad was right there.
Zinnia.Scared. Shit.
Elle: He kept asking me who your boyfriend is, and I told him you don’t have one. He told me that you’re in danger with your boyfriend, and that you ran away with him. But I told him that you literally do not have a boyfriend, and he looked at me like he thought I was lying. I’m confused as hell. What’s he talking about? I told him you texted that you were okay, and he was confused because he said your phone is broken. I’m sorry I told him about you texting me from your laptop. Did he text you?
Fuck. He knows about the laptop. He knows I texted her. He knows I’m not at Elle’s.
Elle: Did he break your phone?
Elle: And where are you? Are you okay? What boy is he talking about? You literally don’t talk to any boys, so I’m really confused.
My throat closes up. Heat pricks behind my eyes, spreads to my cheeks, burns through my chest. I close the laptop and fall sideways onto the bed, curling into myself.
He went to Elle’s house. He scared my best friend. He scared Zinnia. And he didn’t even text me.
That’s the part that breaks something in me. He broke my phone, so I couldn’t contact anyone. He tracked down my best friend. He’s dragging my sister around. I hope he didn’t unleash his anger on her when he realized she was home and I wasn’t.
Tears threaten to spill. He didn’t text me. He didn’t try to reach me through the laptop he clearly knows I have. He’s planning something, and I don’t know what.
The tears come hot and angry. I press my face into the pillow, trying to muffle the sound, but a sob escapes anyway. Then another. My shoulders shake with it.
A knock at the door makes me freeze. Shame takes over, and the crying ends.
I roll away quickly, swiping at my face with both hands. My cheeks are wet. My eyes burn. I can’t let them see me like this.
“Are you crying?” Callum’s deep voice fills the room.
The door opens before I can answer. I keep my face turned away, but I feel him move closer. The bed dips as he sits on the edge, his hand landing warm and steady on my shoulder. I flinch, and he instantly removes his hand.
“I’m sorry.” His voice is softer than I’ve ever heard it. “I’m sorry about last night. I’m a fucking idiot when I drink. Tiger?”
