“What’s wrong?” I ask cautiously, stepping toward her.
She tries to put on a smile, but a flash of pain breaks across her face instead.
The balcony is silent.
“I have to go,” is all she whispers.
I frown, slowly approaching her. “Okay…I’ll take you home.”
“No, I have to go. I… Uh, I need to book a flight and go.”
What?
Gowhere?
I want to reach for her, but she’s gripping herself like she’s about to fall to pieces at my feet, and I don’t want to scare her. I don’t know what happened. She got up to use the bathroom and came back likethis.
“Arden,” I say calmly. I lower my head to meet her eyes. “What’s going on?”
She sniffs, eyes snapping over my shoulder to where the audience watches. She’s shaking when she shrugs, meeting my gaze again. Still, no tears.
“I guess my dad died,” she says, pressing her lips together tightly as she nods. “So, I have to get home and pack a bag. I have to go to Maine. For my sisters, you know?”
Shit.
I hear Penny’s sharp intake of breath.
My heart tears in my chest. It’s brutal and painful to watch someone you care about get smacked with disaster over and over again. I watch her, knowing this is the beginning of something much, much worse. She’s composed now, but that’s going to be temporary. She’s avoided her feelings, her pain, and her heartbreak for years. She can’t avoid this. There is going to be a moment after the shock wears off when she is going to crumble.
“Red,” I whisper, finally attempting to reach for her. She jolts back a step and shakes her head, forcing a gentle smile.Let me take care of you.“I’m so sorry.”
“Don’t be. It was coming, and I wasn’t exactly his biggest fan.” She clears her throat and steps around me, facing the room full of stunned and saddened people who care about her.We all fucking care about her. She waves awkwardly. “I’m sorry to put a damper on the night. I’m going to get out of here. I have a ride waiting outside.”
I frown. “What? No. I’m taking you home.”
Her eyes darken, snapping to mine. “You’ve been drinking.”
“Then I’m coming with you.”
“No,” she says forcefully. She locks eyes with Penny. Sweets goes to step toward her, but Arden backs off. She’s cornered and she’s going to bite if anyone gets too close, just like Wanton. “I’m sorry.”
She turns on her heel and darts back into the house.
I stare after her, frozen to the spot. The whole balcony is dead silent. She can’t go alone. She can’tbealone. This girl has taken on the weight of the world for years, and she does not deserve to have it destroy her when she needs help the most.
I run a hand over my mouth.
“You need to go, Carter,” Penny says, gently touching my arm. “I know she said not to, but you have to.”
“I know,” I mutter.
“I’m sober,” Wyatt announces, rising to his feet. He fishes his keys out of his pocket. “We’ll go pack you a bag, pick her up, and get to the airport.”
“I’ll book your flights,” Declan announces, pulling out his phone. “Send me her details.”
I can’t think. My head is spinning.
“Coach,” I hear Boston grumble in his deep voice. “Yeah, hey. I’m calling on behalf of Fork. No, no. He’s okay. Yeah, listen?—”
