I think it would be best if I got out of town for a little while.”
“Well, then do that.”
“I was hoping I might be able to come there.” I kept talking before she could interrupt. “He won’t know. He doesn’t know I talk to you at all. I told you I wouldn’t tell him, and I never have.”
“Oh, Fiona. I can’t. We don’t have any extra room. And it would be too disruptive for Matt and Chelsea. We’re so busy with all their activities.”
I stared at the dashboard, not really seeing anything. “It wouldn’t be for very long. And I’m used to not taking up much space. You’ll hardly know I’m there.”
Her voice got quiet, like she was trying to keep anyone from hearing. “Why are you making this difficult?”
“Mom, I’m just asking for a place to stay until things calm down here. My boyfriend’s shop got trashed and I’m worried about what’s happening with Dad.”
“That’s why you can’t come here,” she hissed. “I can’t get involved with him again. I can’t risk my children.”
Tears stung my eyes and a lump rose in my throat. Wasn’t I her child too?
Apparently not. She’d left me behind and hadn’t looked back.
“Sorry I bothered you,” I managed to choke out and ended the call.
I dropped my phone in my purse and took a shaky breath. I’d thought—
It didn’t matter what I’d thought. I’d been wrong.
Trying to pull myself together, I swiped beneath my eyes and turned on my car. I didn’t care about our stupid argument. I needed Evan. I needed his arms around me, holding me tight. His lips on my skin, his deep voice in my ear.
I drove out toward his place. Toward home.
Home.
I couldn’t leave, not even temporarily. Whatever happened, we’d face it together. That was how it needed to be. The only way it could be.
Not far outside town, a car pulled up behind me, driving fast. Too fast. I figured they were going to pass me, so I nudged over to the right, hugging the shoulder.
The car got closer, looming in my rear-view mirror. Too late, I realized they weren’t going to pass. They were going to—
They clipped my back bumper. My heart lurched as everything spun. I clung to the steering wheel but I was spinning, spinning, spinning out of control. My tires tore through dirt and rock. Chaos. I couldn’t see where I was going.
I came to an abrupt stop, my head smacking against the window. Hard. But it didn’t hurt.
Why didn’t it hurt?
A face appeared next to the car as my vision faded into a tunnel of black.
39
Evan
I wandered out to the shop, looking for a distraction. I owed Fiona an apology—a big one—but she’d told me not to follow her. I wanted to respect that—give her some space if that was what she needed.
I didn’t like it, but it seemed like the right thing to do.
Usually it was easy to get lost in my work. Turn on some music, focus on the car. But I was too restless. Too edgy.
My phone buzzed with a text. I whipped it out of my pocket, hoping it was Fiona. But it wasn’t.
Gavin: Had breakfast with your girl earlier. She seemed sad. You better kiss and make up, dumbass, or she’s fair game.
Me: Mind your own business.
I glanced at his text again, the word earlier catching my eye. She’d been gone for a couple of hours, and he’d been with her earlier. Where was she now?
She could be anywhere. Maybe with Grace or Cara. She liked to hang out with Gram, maybe she’d gone there.
An unsettled feeling pricked at me. I really wanted to know where she was.
I texted her, just to make sure she was okay.
A minute went by. Then another. Then five. Why wasn’t she answering me? Even if she was mad, she’d answer to tell me she was fine, wouldn’t she?
A few more minutes went by and she still didn’t reply, so I called.
One ring. Two. Three. Then four.
Voicemail.
What the fuck?
I hit end. Was she ignoring me? Maybe. I decided to text Grace.
Me: Have you seen Fiona today?
Grace: No. Is everything okay?
Me: I’m an idiot. We had an argument. She had breakfast in town with Gav, but she hasn’t come back and she’s not answering me.
Grace: I’m off today so I don’t know if she went to the coffee shop. But she didn’t come here.
Me: Can you text Cara? I don’t have her number.
Grace: Of course. Hang on.
I waited, pacing around the shop, growing increasingly