Watching her curl against me, finally relaxed, I realize I’m her safe place, too.
And I don’t want to mess this up.
Not ever again.
Chapter Twenty-Two
The Defcon One
Ingrid
My phone vibrates on the table at a small café in the middle of somewhere. California, maybe. All the highways are starting to look the same.
“You should talk to your mom,” Wilder suggests as Cash puts down another card, winning whatever game they’ve been playing for the last ten minutes. “At least let her know you’re alive.”
“Yeah,” Cash agrees as he shuffles the cards. Not that I asked him, but whatever.
Against my better judgment, I pick up my phone and click on her message.
911 INGRID! LEFTCON TWO! CALL IMMEDIATELY.
I run a hand over my face and murmur, “It’s Defcon One, Mom.”
“That doesn’t sound good,” Wilder says.
“She wants me to call her.” I pause before adding, “Immediately.”
He gives me a small smile. “Call her.”
I take a sobering breath before sliding out of the booth and making my way to the door.
The heat hits me like a brick wall when I walk outside.
I hit the call button on my phone and Mom picks up on the first ring.
“Thank God, Ingrid,” she exhales. “Things are—Jason! She has a hammer! She’s… Oh no!”
“Mom?” I groan. “What is Isla doing now?”
I hear commotion, then Isla screaming that she’s going to break down my door if it’s the last thing she does.
Good to know my absence doesn’t make things less dramatic for all of them.
“Harvey left,” Mom whispers into the phone.
I inhale sharply. “What?”
“He said she’s too much,” Mom continues, voice hushed. “He doesn’t want a child. He wants to go back to teaching and his quiet life.”
I smack my palm to my forehead. “You’re serious?”
“Why do you think I sent you that text?” Mom returns as Dad starts yelling in the background.
Thankfully, I can’t make out what he’s saying.
“It’s Defcon One,” I try explaining. “Not Leftcon Two.”
“It was a play on words, Ingrid,” Mom retorts. “First, Frank left her. Now, Harvey. Get it? Two men have left her.”
