Page 141 of The Heart Breaker

Marianne leads her out, and I follow because I can’t seem to do anything else. I stand there and watch as Sophie gets into the back seat, and then the car pulls away, taking her with it because I still haven’t managed to get my shit together enough to get her out for good.

I stay there for a second after they’re gone, just staring at the spot where the car disappeared, trying to get my head back on straight, but the second I step back into the apartment, everything feels wrong.

I can’t stand being in here for another second. So I shove on a hoodie, jam my feet into my shoes, grab my keys, and leave.

The drive to campus is a blur, the same thought pounding through my head.

I should’ve fixed this already.

I should’ve gotten her out.

I should’ve done something other than stand there and let them take her.

I’ve slept maybe two hours in the last four days, and I feel every second of it. My eyes burn, my head is pounding, and my whole body feels like it’s vibrating.

As soon as I reach the rink, I put the car in park and head inside, pushing open Coach’s office door. He looks up the second I stop in the doorway, and whatever he sees on my face makes him turn off his monitor.

“Ellis.”

“Family services took her,” I tell him, feeling my hands shake. I drag both hands over my face. “They said I’m not her guardian, so they can’t leave her with me. Said they’re not sending her back to him today, but I don’t trust any of it, and I need help.”

I’ve never asked anyone for help. I’ve always learned to deal with shit on my own and figure it out. This feels embarrassing, but Coach is right. I’m not putting my pride above what Sophie needs. I have no clue what I’m doing here, and if I have to beg for help, I will.

“Alright. Sit down.”

I let out a rough groan and drag a hand through my hair. “I don’t want to sit down.”

Coach lifts a brow. “Pacing around my office isn’t going to help.”

I stop pacing and scrub a hand over the back of my neck as I drop into the chair, my leg bouncing the second I sit down.

He lets out a breath and rubs a hand over his jaw. “My wife handles family law. She’ll know what to do,” he says, reachingfor his phone. “And if it’s not something she handles herself, she’ll know exactly who does. I’ll call her.”

He dials before I can say anything else, and I just sit there while he asks for his wife and starts explaining what happened.

When he hangs up, he looks at me and says, “She’s making calls.” I nod, but Coach’s eyes stay on me a second longer and his mouth tightens. “You look like hell.”

I let out a dry laugh and drag a hand over my face. “Thanks.”

“Have you slept at all?”

Another laugh slips out and I lean back in the chair, shaking my head. “Not really.”

Sleep feels impossible right now. I couldn’t get my head to shut off even before this. Not with Aurora gone. Not with everything I said to her still sitting in my throat, rotting there. And now Sophie’s gone too, and I feel stripped down to nothing but exhaustion and rage and panic.

Coach shoots me a look. “Skip practice today and go get some sleep.”

I look at him. “What? We have a game this week.”

“You’re no good to me or your sister if you run yourself into the ground. If you want to help her, then get your head on straight. Go home and wait for my call.”

I slump back in my chair and the second the room goes quiet, my head goes straight back to her.

I don’t even have to try to think about her anymore. She’s just there. In my kitchen. In my bed. In every corner of my head. Every time something happens, good, bad, whatever, she’s still the first person I want to tell, she’s still the first person my mind reaches for.

I want to tell her about Sophie. Want to just talk to her. Want her back in my life, in my arms.

“Go home, Ellis,” Coach says, pulling me out of my thoughts.