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I follow her into the parking garage. Take her hand and draw her toward the car we rode over in. Opening the door, I help her inside. First the hotel to get her stuff. Next, we’re going to disappear. She needs a chance to regroup. I need her safe.

The ride to the hotel... dead silence. She takes out her phone. Puts it away without even lighting up the screen. When she puts her hand on the seat it’s a fist. I enclose my hand around it.

I help her out and we enter the hotel. I scan the lobby for anything unusual or out of place. I already have all the exits and safe points memorized. Another elevator ride and we’re getting off at our floor.

It’s quiet. Security is all over at the venue, except for a couple of men who are left to make sure no one steals our stuff.

She storms into the bedroom. She’s tossing her things into two duffel bags when I enter. I pull a bag from under the bed. That’s me packed and ready.

She packs up her things from the nightstand. Until her fingers close around the urn. That’s when the anger burns out. When she crumples to the floor. Cries.

Her face is a splotchy disaster. Mascara runs down her cheeks from her red-rimmed eyes. She’s a mess. A beautiful, fucked up mess who shouldn’t be in this much pain. I put my arms around her and bring her onto my lap.

“I never got a chance to know her. To hold her or see her smile. Or see her take her first step.” She sobs. “I miss her.”

“Of course you do.” I hold her tight.

“And now he’s having a baby with her.” She breaks all over again.

“We don’t know that it’s true.” I try to give her hope. I don’t know why when I’ve wanted her to realize that she can be happy with me. It’s just... Riot seems to have actually been trying. Seems to really love her. I’ve started to believe he would do anything for her. Letting us love her too.

Telling the whole world he and Sonatina aren’t together. Despite his fears that she would try to hurt Kelsey. He was going to push Sonatina into making a move. But none of us expected this to be Sonatina’s next attempt to get between them.

“Lennon saw them together. Like fully together. She said it’s real.” She wipes at her eyes. “And all Riot could do was demand that I trust him. Like that’s ever worked out well for me. But he couldn’t give me one reason why I should. Why couldn’t he? If he didn’t do it.”

“I wish I could tell you that I’m certain it isn’t real.” But only he can do that. I spread my palms wide. I hate seeing her like this. I know he must feel the same. Even if he couldn’t give her a straight up reason, how could he let her leave? How come he’s not here fighting for her? “I’m not going to tell you to stay. Or to hear him out. If you want to leave, I’m taking you. We’re gone.”

“He said I run away.” Her shoulders shake. “Do you think that’s true?”

Before she showed up with Bronx, I didn’t know her. But I knew her story. How she’d left abruptly. Disappeared. Since she’s been back, I’ve watched her fight tooth and nail for what she believes in. Who she cares for. What she wants. But he’s not wrong. She has run from him at every turn. “Well, he’s deserved it every time.”

We go back to being silent for a while. Eventually she climbs off my lap and carefully wraps the urn before putting it in her bag. “I’m not running away. I’m taking some time to get over him. I’m going to go to Kingstown and stay with a friend there. Tell Bronx and Golden—”

“I’ll call them from the road.” I stand. “I’m coming with you.”

She stops and stares at me. Her lips curve down even more. “I don’t think that’s a good idea.”

“Scary Girl, I—”

She puts her hand over my mouth. Looks at me like she’s devastated. “Don’t say it. Please don’t say it. I can’t hear it right now. I just need to leave and lick my wounds for a while. But if you say it, then I’m going to feel even worse than I already do.”

I tug her hand down from my mouth. “If I don’t say it... I’ll regret it. If I don’t tell you that I’ve fallen for you... Hell, that I fell for you that first night you spent in my bed. And we ate all that candy. And watched infomercials.”

“I remember.” Her lashes are thick with tears. They course down her cheeks.

“I know we agreed we couldn’t be serious. But I never meant it. All the time we’ve spent together has only cemented my feelings for you.” I’ve wanted her for my own. Shared her like she’s ours. I would be happy if she had room in her heart to love us all. “I will follow you anywhere.”

She touches my cheek. Shakes her head. “I don’t want you to follow me.”

Because she doesn’t love me. I knew the risk I was taking. Knew the answer would probably crush me. She’s not mine in the way that I have become hers.

She takes her hand from my cheek and goes back to her packing. “Tell them I’ll call them in a few days. I don’t want them to think I’m abandoning them again.”

“I’ll tell them when I get back.”

“L.A. Riot needs you. I can’t be the reason you’re not there. You guys are due on in...” She zips up on one bag while she glances at the clock on the nightstand. “An hour. I’ll call Willa. She and Micah were talking about coming by since they were working a job in town. I’ll have her pick me up. I’ll stay at the hotel until she gets here.”

“You might not want me to stay, but I can’t leave you here alone. I would never forgive myself if something happened to you.”