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This can’t be happening.
I never thought Sabrina would stoop this low, but I guess I was wrong, and I read his message again, just to be sure I’ve understood, and then reach for my phone, my hand shaking. Ezra’s number is on my contacts list, but as my finger hovers over the green icon, I hesitate. I don’t know what to say to him. I can’t think how to respond.
It’s not just me we’re talking about this time. The impact of what happens next is more far-reaching. It involves Zara, too… and that means I need to see her.
Now.
I stand, my chair almost falling over, and rush out into the store, startling Katie, who lets out a yelp of surprise.
“Tanner? Is everything okay?” she asks, as I check there’s no-one but us in here, and hurry to the front of the store, turning the ‘open’ sign to say ‘closed’, then pulling out my keys and locking the door.
“No,” I reply, returning to her. “I need to go.”
“What’s happened?”
I open my mouth to tell her, but realize I don’t want to waste time talking. I need to be with Zara.
“I’ll explain tomorrow.”
“I could stay and lock up, if it helps?” she says, concern filling her voice.
“No. It’s okay. You head off home.”
I’ve taken advantage of Katie’s generosity too many times already, and besides, I need to concentrate… not be distracted by work and what’s going on here.
She nods, and I wait while she quickly glances around, like she needs to check everything’s as it should be, and then makes her way to the rear of the store. I’m grateful for her haste, and once she’s grabbed her things, I pick up my bag from the bottom of the stairs, and follow her out, closing the back door behind me.
“Call me, if you want to talk,” she says, touching my arm, as I put my key in the lock and turn it.
I look down at her. “Thanks.”
She nods. “And let me know if there’s anything I can do.”
“I will.”
She smiles, although it’s a little half-hearted, and then she turns away. I check the door’s locked and then start toward Zara’s place, crossing Maple Street, grateful that her house is just yards from mine.
I’m relieved today is Thursday, so I don’t have to face Nash yet. I don’t have to lie to him about his mother’s latest tricks. And at least Zara and I have time to work out how we’re going to respond…to show Sabrina we can’t be beaten. Not by her, or her fancy lawyers.
I ring the doorbell, trying to breathe normally, wondering how to tell Zara what’s happened, although the moment she opens the door, my eyes drop to the two suitcases right behind her.
What’s she doing? We agreed I’d stay here tonight, so why has she packed?
And why has she packed so much? This looks like everything she owns…
Chapter Seventeen
Zara
I blink away my tears, or try to, as Tanner’s eyes flick from my suitcases to me, his bewilderment increasing.
“What’s going on?” he asks.
Why did he have to come over now?
I let out a sigh, wondering how I’d hoped to get packed and out of here before he arrived, and I feel my shoulders drop, the fight ebbing out of me.
I can’t speak, and as though he senses that, he steps inside the house.
