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As instructed, we arrive at the girls’ place a few hours later to inspect the damage.
Dani climbs out of my SUV and stands firmly in the grass before the house, looking up at it in horror. I reluctantly rip my eyes from hers to the house and find it barely a skeleton of the home that was here just yesterday. The structure is black and smoky with the whole front burnt to a crisp. I can’t imagine what the inside looks like, let alone what the girls and Jared must be feeling right now.
Sophie hops out of Tank’s truck and walks over to Dani, reaching out to take her hand. They both stand in silence as they take in what’s left of their home. I glance over to Jared to see him making his way over to the girls. He wraps his arms around them both and pulls them into his chest. The girls cry into him, and he does his best to soothe them. I desperately want to go to Dani and tell her everything is going to be okay, but she needs this moment with her friends.
Officer Samuels comes out of the house wearing a grim expression, followed by a few others, all sporting bright yellow hard hats. Her eyes land on our group and she makes her way over. She reaches out to Sophie and places a gentle hand on her shoulder.
Sophie turns around as Jared drops his arms, and the three of them concentrate on whatever Officer Samuels is saying. A few moments later, Dani turns around and walks over to us. “We’re going in,” she says, looking down at the ground. “We’ll need hard hats.”
“Okay,” I say, taking her hand and leading her over to the truck that holds all the equipment. I grab a few hats and help her to put one on. I knock her on the head and smirk when she finally smiles up at me, a silent message letting me know she’s as alright as she can be. I put on my hat and lead her over to the others before handing out the rest of the hard hats.
Once we’re all ready, we follow Officer Samuels into the house.
Dani gasps as we bypass the living room, tightening her hold on my hand as she takes in the charred remains of her home. I pull her closer and hold her to me as we make our way deeper into what used to be their home.
The kitchen is the same as the living room; absolutely gone, and unable to wait a moment longer, Sophie takes off and heads down the hallway toward her room with Tank following. Jared and Ashton do the same, and I lead Dani toward her room and stop her halfway down the hallway. I turn her in my arms and look down at her. “Are you sure you’re ready to see this?” I ask as I study her reaction.
Her eyes begin to water. “No. But it’s now or never, right?”
I rub my hands up and down Dani’s arms as she takes a deep breath. She turns back around and continues down the blackened hall. She stops by her door, takes another deep breath, and steps over the threshold.
Chapter 21
Danielle
Istepintowhatused to be my bedroom and sink to my knees onto the sooty carpet as a loud sob rips through my chest. I’m distantly aware of Miller behind me, holding onto my shoulders as I cry into my hands.
This place had been my home since the day I left Brett. It had been my salvation from a bad life, the place where I became whole again.
I glance around my room to find absolutely nothing. The room is barely a frame. My bed, my camera, my laptop, my clothes, all of my possessions. Just gone.
Miller grabs me under my arms and hauls me to my feet so he can hold me tight to his chest as I cry into his shirt. I feel his hand rubbing circles on my back as he tries to soothe me. “They’re just things. Things can be replaced,” he tells me. “It will be okay.”
I nod into his chest. I know he’s right, but it doesn’t change the fact that it still hurts like a bitch. I don’t know what I would do without him today. He has been my rock, keeping me going when all I’ve wanted to do is crumble into a ball and give up. I pull myself out of his arms and make my way around the room, making note of everything before coming to my closet, hoping to God that something might have survived inside.
I swing the door open and jump back out of the way as the door comes off the hinges, falling toward me. Miller jumps in, throwing his arm up and preventing the door from falling on my head. He finds somewhere safe to place his hands on the charred wood and picks it up, placing it at the other end of the room.
Letting out a breath, I peek into the wardrobe and sigh as every last bit of hope escapes me. Just as I expected, there’s absolutely nothing left.
I hear a gasp behind me and realize that Sophie has made her way into the room. “Shit, Dani,” she says, looking around the room, clearly stuck for words.
“I know,” I tell her. “It’s all gone.”
“It’s okay,” she tells me. “It just gives us an excuse to go shopping.”
I give her a small smile, appreciating her fake enthusiasm. It’s solely for my benefit, trying to make out like this isn’t a big deal and that it’s all going to be okay.
“Come on,” Sophie says a moment later, taking my hand and leading me out of the room. “I’ve got a few things we can share until we can get new stuff.”
I leave my room and promise myself that I will never look back. I’m starting new with Miller. A new perspective to go with my new home. If my friends are safe, I’ll be okay, and as long as I have Miller by my side, nothing can hurt me.
I make my way down the hall and into Sophie’s room, pleased to see she still has a few things worth saving. I help her pack up what’s left while Miller heads down to Jared’s room and gives him a hand.
Two hours later, we’ve finished packing everything we can, and with tears in our eyes, we say goodbye to our home.
I hop into Miller’s SUV, and we head to the store so I can get a few of the necessities I’ll need until Sophie and I get a real chance to replace what we’ve lost once our renter’s insurance claim goes through. Walking around the store with Miller is a whole new experience, one that surprisingly cheers me up.
His first stop is the underwear section, and he does his best to fill the basket with the smallest pieces he can find. I try to explain to him that we’re just getting the necessities and don’t need this stuff, but he ensures me that this is definitely a necessity.
