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Annabelle
Declan flew out Friday night for his final away game of the regular season. They have one more home game after this at eight o’clock on Christmas night. They won the game they played the weekend after Thanksgiving and lost the week after that. With less than two weeks to go until Christmas, they’ve already secured their place in the playoffs and are now fighting for the division title which would give them a bye week their first week.
I’ve quickly realized I hate his away games because I’ve fallen in love with having this man in my life, my home, and my bed. When he’s not here, it all feels empty.
Tommy and I are on our way to Coach and Katherine’s house to watch today’s game. She invited all of us to watch it there and go over last-minute schedules and wedding details. Declan and I have kept our big news to ourselves for the past week. He wants to wait until Cooper comes home in a few days, and then we’ll tell everyone together. So, for now, my pretty engagement ring sits in my jewelry box at home.
I’m happily singing along to a cool, acoustic version of Bryan Adams’s “Summer of 69” when I come to a stop at the red-light in front of the dance studio and see the damn light on again.
What the hell?
I pull into the parking lot and leave Tommy in the car to run inside quickly and turn it off. What I find inside the building makes the hair on the back of my neck stand up. I immediately turn and run back to the car, making sure Tommy is okay and then call Nattie.
“Hurry up, slowpoke. You’re gonna miss kickoff.” Nat’s voice is playful, and I can hear the commentators in the background.
“Nattie, I’m at the studio. I need your help. Do you think you can come and pick up Tommy?” The trembling in my voice makes it hard to hide my fear.
“Annabelle?” The playfulness of a moment ago is gone. “What’s going on?”
“I need you to come get Tommy. Please.” I don’t want to talk about this in front of him.
No more questions asked. “We’ll be there in five minutes.”
The call ends, and I look at my trembling hands. Fuck. I get out of the car and shut the door before making my next call.
“Nine-one-one, what is your emergency?” the responder asks.
“My name is Annabelle Hart. I own Hart & Soul Academy of Dance on Main Street in Kroydon Hills. Someone has broken into my studio.”
She confirms the address and tells me an officer is on his way.
As I’m disconnecting the call, I see Brady’s Range Rover and Bash’s Hummer both pull into the parking lot. Turning around, I face Tommy and force a smile onto my face. “Hey, little man, Nattie is here, and she’s going to take you to Coach and Katherine’s. Okay?”
“You’re coming too,” Tommy tells me, eyes never drifting from the game he’s engrossed in on his iPad.
“I’ll be a few minutes behind you guys, but I’ll meet you there. I promise.” Shit. I have no idea how long this will actually take. I’m banking on him having fun and not noticing that I’m not there.
Nattie, Brady, and Bash all get out of their vehicles and rush toward my car. Once I’ve gotten Tommy out, I hand Nattie his bookbag and shake my head no. I need her not to question me in front of him.
She must pick up on my silent message because she turns to my brother. “Hey, Tommy boy. Let’s go get in Brady’s car. We don’t want to miss kickoff.”
“Yes! Let’s go watch Declan!” I’m suddenly grateful this kid prefers to stay in his own world most of the time.
Bash watches Nattie get Tommy settled in the blue Range Rover before turning back to me. “Okay, they’re in the car. Tommy can’t hear anything. What the hell is going on, Belles?” He looks worried. Glancing next to him, I see Brady does too, and the composure I was barely grasping onto slips out of reach.
The tears start to fall, so I angle myself away from Brady’s car and try to hold back the sobs. “We were on our way to Coach’s house when I noticed the lights were on in the studio again. I didn’t think anything of it. I felt sick when I was leaving yesterday and rushed out of here, so I figured I just left the lights on. I walked inside to turn them off and lock back up, but I was so wrong. Someone’s been in my studio.”
Sebastian wraps his arms around me, pulling me tight against his chest.
“Did you call the cops, Belles? Do you want me to go in and check it out?” Brady offers.
“No.” I stand straighter. “No, thank you, Brady. Please just get Tommy out of here. I don’t want to upset, or worse, scare him. I’ll get to the house as soon as I can. I’ve already called the cops. They’re on their way.”
Brady hugs me tightly, then pulls back and looks at Bash. There’s an unspoken conversation between the two before he walks away.
“I’m waiting here with you, Belles. Should we go inside, or do you want to wait for the police out here?”
I manage to contain my shaky breathing as I wipe the tears away. “Thanks, Bash. I appreciate it. Do you mind if we wait for the police out here? I really don’t want to go back inside yet.” I lean against my car.
