“I mean it,” he says quietly. “I’ll call you.”
I nod, because what else can I do?
TWO
DOUGLAS
I hate leaving her.
Yet, leaving people is what I’ve done most of my life. Running away from one thing to handle another. Prioritizing what matters. Making the call fast and not looking back.
That part is easy.
This isn’t. Because for the first time in a long time, there wasn’t anywhere else I wanted to be.
But I have to go. I’ve made promises. Promises to people who depend on me. Need me. I can’t let them down.
I exhale, dragging a hand over the back of my neck as I slide behind the wheel.
I turn on my truck and grab my phone. She answers on the first ring.
“Hey,” Anna says. Her voice is weak enough that my grip on the wheel tightens.
“I’m on my way,” I say. “What’s going on?”
“I think it’s food poisoning,” she says. “Bella’s been throwing up for an hour. Ethan started twenty minutes ago, and I?—”
She cuts off.
While she tries to muffle the receiver, I still hear it. She’s down for the count too.
“Anna,” I say, keeping my voice steady. “Sit down.”
“I can’t.”
“You can,” I counter. “Because I’m ten minutes out, and if you pass out, it’ll take you that much longer to get better.”
She lets out a weak breath that might be a laugh. “My big brother. Always trying to be the hero.”
“Never said I was.” I clench my jaw. “I’m almost there.”
There’s a pause.
“Doug?”
“Yeah.”
“I’m sorry.”
My jaw tightens. “Don’t.”
“I know you had plans tonight?—”
“It’s okay.” Because she needs it to be.
“I still feel bad.”
“Anna.”
