Wyatt shot up from the bed. “We’ll come with you.”
“No. I would like some space to think for a little while, please.” With that said, I walked out into the living room.
Bash and Theo watched as I stormed across the room toward the front door.
“Where are you going?” Bash asked.
“For a walk,” I tossed over my shoulder as I opened the front door and stepped into the daylight.
The sun felt good on my skin as I walked down the sidewalk through the neighborhood. The air felt easier to breathe. The weather was nice, too. It was the peak of springtime.
My head felt full and loud. I didn’t know where to begin, but I knew I couldn’t keep putting things off any longer.
Find strength, Lottie.
I walked aimlessly, lost in my thoughts. When it started to get darker out, I realized quite a bit of time had gone by. I took in my surroundings. I was still in Bram’s neighborhood, but I had no idea where I was. I turned around and noticed I wasn’t alone. Bash and Theo were standing maybe thirty feet behind me.
I made my way over to them. “Do you know the way back?”
“What would you have done had we not been here?” Bash grumbled. “Do you even have your phone?”
I glanced around the neighborhood. “This wasn’t one of my finest moments.”
Theo silently turned and started walking back in the direction we’d come from.
“This is our first day of knowing you. We don’t know how true that statement is,” Bash said as he and I followed Theo, walking next to each other.
“My whole life I was taught that appearances, reputation, and the opinion of others were all that mattered. It was drilled and beaten into me so much that I, too, thought it was important. For the first time, I am able to learn who I really am, and right now, you just taught me that I don’t give a damn about the opinion of others. So thank you for that,” I said.
Theo snorted and Bash stared at me with raised brows.
We walked back in silence for a while until Bash asked, “So did your boyfriends piss you off?”
“Not really,” I said. “Things were brought up that I was burying my head in the sand about. Not just with them, but with everything.”
He nodded as if understanding. “Did the walk help?”
“A little,” I said.
When we got back, Roe’s motorcycle and Wyatt’s car were gone, which I wasn’t surprised about. What I hadn’t expected to see was my blue G-wagon and a black Mercedes parked out front. Bram was also home, waiting outside by the front door. He was frowning with his arms folded over his chest. “Heard you took off.”
I came to a stop in front of him. “I went for a walk. I needed to clear my head.”
“Did something happen?” he asked.
“Nothing bad.” I didn’t want to talk about it.
As if understanding, he nodded. “Next time, take your phone.” He glanced at Bash and Theo. “Thanks for the help, boys.”
“See you tomorrow, Bram,” Bash said as he and Theo mounted their motorcycles that were parked in the driveway.
“How did my car get here?” I asked Bram just before Bash and Theo turned on their bikes. Because they were so loud, Bram’s response was to nod his head toward the front door. Ifollowed him inside, and waiting in the living room were Prue and a tall man with tawny skin wearing a very nice suit.
As soon as they saw me, the man walked over and smiled like he was pleased to see me. He held out his hand. “Hello, Charlotte.”
I glanced at Prue again, wondering if he was who I thought he was.
As if knowing what I was thinking, Prue gave me a single nod.
