Page 50 of Until You

“Whoa!”

Crew.

It’s Crew.

A strangled cry is all I can manage as sobs of relief wrack my body just as violently as the trembling does.

“Tennyson? What is it? What’s wrong?”

All I can do is shake my head and try to stand on my own without him holding me up.

“It’s okay. We didn’t hit each other. No harm. No foul.”

Embarrassed, more shaken than I care to admit, I finally have the courage to meet his eyes. “The house. I . . .”

“Dad?”

I jar at the sound of Paige’s voice. “No,” I murmur, shaking my head and immediately turning my back to hide my face from her.

“Is she okay?”

Crew takes a few steps away from me. “Yes. Just shaken. She thought we were going to hit her. Tell you what, why don’t you and Addy head back to the house for me, okay? We’ll go to the library later.”

“No. P-please. You can t-take them. I’m f-fine.” I stutter over the words. “I promise.”

Crew shakes his head. “Paige? Head back. I’ll be there in a few minutes.”

Paige looks my way, worry on her sweet face.

I muster a smile. “It’s okay. I’m fine.” I clear my throat. “Really. Take the girls, Crew.”

“No.” There is no arguing with him, and frankly I don’t want to.

We watch both girls as they head up the driveway. They look back a few times before turning past the oak tree.

Crew walks past me and reaches across the seat of my Jeep to turn the ignition off and pockets my keys. When he steps back out of the doorway, I can’t escape his questioning gaze. “You want to tell me what’s going on? Why you’re rushing out of here like a bat out of hell?”

My heart is still racing, and it feels like I have a huge lump in my throat. “My doors. Someone was here. I—”

“Shit.” He takes a few steps back and runs a hand through his hair before putting his hands on my shoulders and stooping down so we’re eye level. “That was me. I—”

“You?” It was him?

“Yes. Christ, I’m sorry. The plumber called and needed a part number so he can order it in before his appointment next week. I didn’t think you’d mind if I grabbed it from the garage. But I noticed water trickling out from under the door to the mudroom and couldn’t find a spare key under the pots, so I thought maybe the window was unlocked. When it wasn’t, I turned the mainline off to the house and ran home to get a spare key and some tools. I was just on my way back.”

“It was you,” I repeat, forcing myself to hear myself. To believe the words. “I thought someone was inside. I thought . . .”

“I’m sorry.” He pulls me against his chest, but I just stand there, hands at my sides, trying to calm myself down. “I should have called you. Let you know. I didn’t—”

“It’s fine. I’m fine.” I take a step back, pushing against the comfort of his hug, mortified at my reaction. I can’t imagine what he’s thinking right now. “The house. Let me open it.”

I walk toward the cottage, my thoughts so disjointed from the fear that just owned me that I don’t register the fact that Crew just said my house is flooded. All I can think about is the feeling of being trapped. The sheer terror of thinking Kaleo had sent someone to come after me.

The door is locked. I try the handle, try to remember where my keys are, suddenly frantic to get inside. I yelp when Crew puts his hands on my shoulders to steady me. “Tennyson. Stop. It’s okay,” he says into the crown of my head. “I’m here. You’re safe.”

You’re safe.

You’re Tennyson. And you’re safe.