Immediately, relief floods through me. If he’s texting me, then that means he’s all right. I can hardly contain my joy as my fingers rush to open the message—but then I freeze as another thought knocks the breath from my lungs. What if it’s not a positive response? What if he’s shutting me down again, reiterating his desire for things to be over between us?
Marcus must be able to see the dread on my face because he leans over and looks at the phone screen, seeing the notification.
“Do you want me to read it?” he asks helpfully.
I swallow hard, shaking my head. “No… I can do it.”
With trembling hands, I tap the message, holding my breath as the conversation opens. There are only four words on the screen, but they’re the best four little words I could have hoped for.Can you come over?
“I have to go,” I say, my heart hammering against my chest. “He wants to talk.”
“I don’t think any of us are in good enough shape to drive,” Eric says, hiccupping again for added effect.
“I can drive,” Marcus says. “I stopped drinking about an hour ago.”
“Atta boy!” Eric croons. “Let’s go get this man his boo!”
As stupid as that sentence sounded, it only adds to the new hope brewing in my chest. This isn’t over. There’s still a chance.
We hastily throw some cash on the table for the bill, and then the four of us rush out of the restaurant toward Marcus’s truck. Before we get too far, Chrissy chases after us.
“Ethan, wait!” she calls out.
I turn to face her and see she’s waving something in her hand. It’s the napkin with all the little writings on it. In my haste, I’d left it sitting on the table.
“Don’t forget this,” she says, a bemused smile on her lips. “Now, go get him.”
“Thanks, Chrissy.” I can’t help but smile as I pull her in for a tight hug, feeling eternally grateful for the support, especially knowing what she’s gone through to give it.
As we peel out of the parking lot toward uncertain victory, Chrissy waves at us like a maiden bidding a fond farewell to warriors on their way to war. We ride off into the sunset (it’s nearly midnight), bolstered and eager for the battle to come.
Chapter Forty-Four
Please Don't Go
ThedrivetoLuke’shouse feels like it takes an eternity.
Although Marcus was the soberest among us, he still probably shouldn’t have gotten behind the wheel. We were too hyped up to think about it clearly when we left the bar, but he’s driving cautiously.
My mind buzzes anxiously as I think about what I’m going to say to Luke when I see him. I’m probably too drunk for this kind of conversation. Or maybe I’m not drunk enough? I probably should have waited until morning when the alcohol had worn off… Somehow, I don’t think that would have made this any less difficult.
I’m not sure if having the guys come with me was a good idea, either—I can only imagine what Luke will think seeing me with an entourage. But I can’t say I’m not grateful for their company. Knowing they have my back feels unreal, especially after I spent so long needlessly worrying that they’d disapprove of my relationship with Luke. Wasted too much time, more like.God, I love my friends.
Oh, yeah. I’m definitely too drunk for this.
“What the hell?” Marcus suddenly asks, cutting through my thoughts.
As we pull into Luke’s driveway, I see what caught his attention, and I freeze, my eyes widening in horror. Luke’s truck comes into view under the headlights, and it’s in an awful state. Not only have the tires been slashed, but a brick is lodged in the windshield, spider-vein cracks creeping out to the edges around it. The driver’s side door is dented like someone took a baseball bat to it, and the window is completely busted out. It looks like something out of a horror movie.
“What the fuck?” Eric asks, rubbing his eyes like he can’t tell if he’s seeing things.
My heart starts racing uncontrollably, my rage and anxiety reaching new heights. It effectively sobers me up. Pete did this, I’m sure of it. What kind of hell has Luke been living in since I last saw him?
I scramble out of the car, my blood boiling with fury. I’ve never wanted to hurt someone more, and there were plenty of times I was very close to hurting Frank. Knowing what Pete has already done to Luke, and seeing how he probably hasn’t stopped, all of my restraint is gone.
I should have known things wouldn’t have settled down after Luke came back here. I should have realized he was still in trouble… Our problems should have come second to this.
Suddenly, a series of sounds come from inside the house, stopping me dead in my tracks. There’s screaming and shouting, muffled but loud enough that we can still hear it from out here. And then, shortly after, there are two soft but very distinctive ‘pops’ that can only be one thing.
