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I made it a point to know everything I could.
Which was why I knew the fire hadn’t torn through Grizzly Valley. The winds had turned, and the firefighters had enough time to get a line up to protect the town. The best part? Grizzly Valley was relatively close to River’s Bend. Close enough that they were housing a large portion of our evacuees—including the Rush Hockey players in this recently completed block of apartments.
And in the gymnasium at the local middle school.
Thatwas more of a temporary holding facility for those with pets until they found accommodations that allowed animals, or for those who didn’t want to be placed somewhere, hoping they would pop back home like the fire hadn’t happened,orfor those who just needed a place to wait until relatives came up to get them.
But all that being said, the gym wasn’t far.
I could walk there, get a ride home myself.
Done.
Easy.
Protect your flank.
Exactly.
“Harpy,” Joel said, snagging my arm as I wrapped my fingers around the strap of my purse, the one thatwasin the kitchen.
I tugged free of his hand, ignoring the fact that he was still naked, ignoring the fact that I was stillwanting, and slung it over my opposite shoulder so that the strap laid diagonally across my chest. A breath, steeling myself. Then I spied my jacket on the couch.
Good.
I’d need that too.
I used that as an excuse to put more distance between us and scooped it up, intending to execute the whole purse-for-jacket swap when I got the fuck out of here.
Already my mind was snapping into focus, the pieces of armor and spine locking into place. I needed to implement my exit, and I needed to do it in a way that wouldn’t reveal I was bleeding all over my insides.
“Billie Rose.”
I froze.
Because,God, that might have been the first time he’d ever said my name.
And it devastated me.
Clink. Clink. Clink.
More rapid armor gathering, more frantic protecting.
I needed an exit.
And, fortunately, the universe gave me one.
Joel’s phone rang from the bedroom.
“You should get that,” I said when he didn’t immediately move.
“No.” He stepped closer, and his expression was one that I couldn’t read. “We need to talk—”
Okay. Right. Time to go.
No talking.
No prolonging this.
