The thoughts are still rolling around in my head when I answer the front door on Wednesday morning. It’s early—I only just got home from dropping Tinsley at school—and I thought Blake would sleep for at least a few more hours after completing two night shifts.
My heart races in anticipation of seeing him, but my smile turns into a frown when I see someone unexpected on my front step.
Everett rubs the back of his neck, his eyes downcast. A pit of dread settles in my stomach.
“Sorry to drop in unannounced,” he says quietly. “Can I come in?”
Swallowing, I step back and give him space to enter, closing the door behind him. My pulse echoes in my ears as I watch him walk to the couch and sit down.
“Is everything okay?” I ask, perching on the ottoman at the end of the couch.
“I don’t know,” he says, still not looking at me.
My chest tightens. Does he know about me and Blake? Did he figure it out when we disappeared together at the restaurant? Is he here to warn me away from his friend?
Anxiety claws at my throat, taking away my ability to breathe. I pray Blake doesn’t show up while Everett’s here. I don’t think it will end well.
“Have you ever thought about leaving Beckford?” he asks, his question jolting me from my spiral.
“Wh-what?” I stammer.
He finally drags his defeated gaze to mine. “Would you consider taking Tinsley and leaving?”
The room spins and my stomach swoops violently. This has all come out of nowhere. “Where’s this coming from?”
“I’m worried Dad’s planning something. If you want to take Tinsley and disappear, I’ll help. Money, a place to live, whatever you need, I’ll give it to you.”
“We can’t. Our lives are here. My friends. You. If I run, we won’t be able to stop. Your father won’t let us go. He’ll send someone to find us.”
A shiver racks through my body at the thought of what he’d do to me if I took her and ran.
I shake my head. “It’s not an option.”
His body slumps as he releases a heavy sigh.
“If he tries something, we’ll get a good lawyer. We’ll fight him.”
“Yeah.” He runs a hand over his face.
“Where’s this coming from? You haven’t said anything after his last two visits with Tinsley. Did he say something?”
“He’s been asking questions,” Everett says. “There’s nothing specific that I can pinpoint, but I have a really bad feeling, and I can’t let anything bad happen to Tinsley.” His hazel eyes, so similar to his father’s, meet mine. “Or you.”
“I appreciate that,” I say, offering him a small smile, “but we can’t leave Beckford. If we’re caught, I’ll lose Tinsley. I won’t let that happen.”
“Sorry,” he says, his face dropping. “I don’t want you toleave. It would kill me not to see Tinsley. I’m just trying to protect her.”
“You protect her by showing up for her. She loves you, and I’m so grateful for everything you’ve done for us. You’re a good person, Everett. A great brother.”
He smiles, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. “I don’t feel it sometimes.”
My stomach twists, and I’m once again flooded with guilt that I’m putting too much pressure on him by having him supervise Tinsley’s visits with their father. “If there’s anything I can do?—”
“I’m good,” he says, getting to his feet. “I should go. I’ve got a lecture in half an hour.”
He walks to the door and lets himself out, while I stay rooted to the spot. My nerves are shot from that conversation; my mind is going a million miles an hour. What the hell could Edward be planning? Surely, he’s not planning on petitioning for custody of Tinsley. There’s not a judge in their right mind who would sign off on that after what he did. He may not have laid a hand on her, but that’s only because I put my body in the firing line to protect her.
I press my hand to my forehead, knowing I should try to get some work done before Blake comes over, but there’s no way I can concentrate on numbers right now. It will mean working overtime for the next couple of days to make up for it, but that’s the beauty of being my own boss. I can choose my own hours.
