Page 112 of Breakaway Hearts

“The Suttons,” I correct, and it hits me that my first instinct was to feel guilty for sneaking out, not terrified that Colt was going to do something to me. Owen is technically on the couch between us, but even that is concerning.

“Right…I thought he brought you upstairs?”

“Oh, he did, but I have an early morning, so…”

“I’ll drive you,” Colt decides, grabbing his jacket and keys from a hook on the wall.

“That’s okay.”

“It’s late, it’s dark, and no one will forgive me if I let you walk home alone at two in the morning. Myself included.” He looks to me like I don’t have a choice in the matter, but also like he’s pleading for me to say yes.

“Jason should be outside. He called on his way home to see if I needed a ride, which woke me up, so…might as well head home,” I lie, trying not to be mollified by Colt’s concern for my safety, absolutely no hesitation to drive me home when he was clearly on his way to…I don’t know, but I hear a girl’s laugh from behind him, and raise my eyebrows.

“She’s here for the sheets more than me,” he assures me, glancing out the window to confirm Jason is waiting in the driveway.

I struggle with the door, so Colt comes over and turns the handle up to open it.

“You should, um, wake him once I’m gone.” I nod to Owen. “So he can sleep in the bed and not get a kink in his neck or something.”

“Sure thing,” Colt agrees without asking why I’m not waking him myself. “Goodnight Maddie.”

“Goodnight.”

I wave when I get to the car and Colt finally goes back inside.

“Fuck, I’m sorry,” Jay says as soon as I get in.

“For what?” I go back to my fear response.

“I didn’t know if I should mind my own business and let you have fun if that’s what you were doing, but no D is that good, and I wanted to storm in there and get you, but if I was wrong…I was walking to the door to pretend I was checking on Owen’s injury when you finally texted back.”

I give him a grateful hug and hear the sigh of relief he lets out.

“You are the best friend in the world, and I do not deserve you,” I say into his chest.

“You put up with me, we’re even,” he assures me. “What happened in there? Did I break up your fun or should I have come way earlier?”

He’s concerned now, not angry, but there’s a good chance he’ll lock me in the car and go kill Owen if I implied the latter.

“We watched the Suttons, and I guess I fell asleep?” I still don’t understand how that happened, because Jay’s right, I need all my faculties intact if there are other people around, and sleep is not easy to come by unless I feel completely safe, like behind a deadbolt, an alarm, and the knowledge that Jason is screaming distance away.

“Not like that,” I add quickly when I see Jason’s face. “I woke up early this morning to finish an assignment before my shift at the shelter, didn’t sleep well last night, and must have been tired enough that I crashed, and your text woke me.”

I don’t mention that Owen actually carried me halfway up the stairs before I even stirred, because that means I felt so safe with him I let my guard down enough to not only sleep, but to let him move me to a secondary location. I know the statistics, yet I didn’t wake up when he touched me, moved me…

“So you’re glad I came and ruined your night?” Jason verifies.

How do I answer? Yes, I’m so damaged I need you to rescue me from getting close to anyone else? Or no, enjoy your life, I’ll figure myself out?

“How was your night?” I ask instead of answering.

“Not bad.” He shrugs, but I’m grateful he’s letting me drop it.

“Where were you?”

“A silent disco,” he shares.

“Where the music is in your headphones?”