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Focus, Devlin.
I am.
On her, not the case.
She is the case.
She’s more than that.
I have nothing to say to that. Because, yeah, I think she just might be.
Returning to my point for being here, her safety more important than what’s happening between us, within me, I ask her to tell me what occurred the night she was injured.
Upon discovering she was on a blind date, I mentally curse myself for having her start at the beginning.
It shouldn’t make me feel better that it was so awful she ghosted him, considering what transpired next, but it does.
Chapter Three
Rae
November 13th…
“I hate this,” I angrily whisper to Finn. Poor guy happened to be free to talk when I called. So, really, this is his fault. If he hadn’t answered, he wouldn’t currently be dealing with my meltdown. All I want is to go to the grocery store.
Scratch that, I needto.
I’ve gone through everything in my fridge, freezer, and cupboards.
While I could have more delivered, and have once, I don’t want to again.
“Sis,” Finn responds, his tone gentle, “I’m not sure that’s a good idea.”
“Danny didn’t say I couldn’t leave.”
“Danny?”Crap. My brother is like a bloodhound when he catches the slightest scent of a story. It make him a damn fine investigative reporter but a pain in the ass sibling when I’m on the receiving end.
Which I normally am, never more so than when I might be interested in a man. Seeing as how that hasn’t been the case in a long time, I just know Finn will hound me about my slip.
“He suggested I call him that to put me more at ease.” He did no such thing, but that’s how I’m putting it to my protective, cough cough nosey, brother. It’s not a lie when it equals self-preservation.
A rule my mom shared with me as a sixteen-year-old sophomore with a crush on a junior. Finn discovered it and was relentless in trying to figure out who it was.
I’d fallen for his questioning; the boy started avoiding me and my crush withered.
That’s when mom told me her stance on it, and that if that boy let Finn deter him from me, then he wasn’t good enough for me.
Not that I believed it at the time. As I got older, though? I understood what she meant. A real man wouldn’t let anything or anyone stand in his way of being with me.
“Mm-hmm.” He clearly doesn’t buy it, but that’s a problem for a different day. Or year seeing as how I’m dealing with so many already. When I don’t take the bait, he huffs and offers, “I could go with you after I get off.” His hours are erratic, as is his travel, depending on his current story and the research required. While he does and has covered breaking news situations, he’s mostly based out of our hometown and stays fairly close.
A fact that makes our parents breathe a little easier. Though my ongoing issue has changed that lately. They’re – we’re all – on edge.
Except that short time Danny was here, I’d been able to step back from it a little. My toes were no longer hanging over, they were on solid ground once again. I hated seeing Danny leave. Hated returning to that place in my mind telling me I wasn’t safe.
Before going, he did ensure that I was okay. Danny also gave me his number, watching as I entered it in my phone and waiting while I called so he’d have mine. Danny said I could contact him, no time or reason off limits, if I need him. Even if it’s just to talk.
He seemed so sincere, even made me promise I’d use it and wouldn’t get in his car until I gave it.
