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I nod, hoping to God I can trust him.
At this point, I’m not sure if I’ll ever trust anyone again.
22
HADLEY
Like I expected,Social Services show up to take my sisters to a group home while I get patched up in the ambulance and answer an officer’s questions.
Watching my sisters get hauled away in tears, I hate my father in that moment, more than I ever have, even more than when he was hurting me. What makes me feel even more crappy is I should’ve seen this coming. Maybe I did. Maybe I was just living in denial.
“I swear to the moon and back I’ll fix this!” I shout to my sisters as the car they were put in starts to drive away. I stand up from the back of the ambulance, letting the blanket wrapped around my shoulders fall to the ground. “I swear to the moon and back I will.”
Londyn watches me through the back window until she can no longer see me, until I can no longer see her.
Another officer approaches me then and asks even more questions, most of which are about what happened and my dad, like if I know where he went—stuff like that. By the time everyone clears out, my dad is now a wanted man, my sisters are gone, and the blood on my face has dried. My heart, though, still feels like it’s bleeding.
Rhyland and Blaise have stuck around the entire time too, something I’m both appreciated of and embarrassed about, because I’m weak at the moment and I hate people seeing me like that.
“So.” Rhyland steps up beside me after the last officer pulls away and Blaise has wandered away to take a phone call.
It’s late. The sun set behind the shallow hills hours ago, and the air has a slight nip to it, yet I don’t feel cold. Numbness. That’s all I feel.
“So,” I mimic Rhyland’s tone as I stand near the side door, staring down the empty driveway.
The corners of his lips quirk, but he pushes it back. “You okay, beautiful girl?”
I must be really exhausted since I don’t even have the desire to chew him out for his use of the nickname he seems intent on giving me.
“Yeah,” I lie, but I’m not about to tell him the truth right now.
I barely know him and I don’t even tell the people I know the truth.
“You sure about that?” he questions with an arch of a brow.
“Does it really matter?” I ask.
I expect him to smile like he always does, but he doesn’t, instead staring at me worriedly. Unable to stand the sadness and pity in his eyes, I look away from him and stare down the road. I should go inside, take a shower, and wash the blood off my face, but I’m not that eager to greet the darkness and stillness awaiting me inside.
“Hadley.” Rhyland places a hand on my shoulder. “I know we don’t know each other very well, but I—my brothers and I, we understand this sort of stuff. Too much unfortunately.”
I tense—I don’t even know why—and he quickly removes his hand.
“I should go inside.” I start to turn, but he steps in front of me.
“The paramedics said you might have a concussion.” He levels his gaze with mine. “I think you should sleep over at my house for the night so you’re not alone. I can sleep on the couch, and you can take my bed. I’m sure Blaise will be cool with that.”
“I’m fine.”Lie. I’m not even close to being fine.
I’m broken.
He eyes me over with doubt. “Even if you are, it’s still a good idea for you not to be alone. The paramedics even said so; said someone should keep an eye on you.”
“And you want to be that person?” I question in disbelief.
He shrugs, stuffing his hands into his pockets. “I don’t mind doing it.”
“You should. You barely know me.” Even Blaise barely knows me and I’ve spent the most time with him.
