“I’m sorry I left without saying goodbye. I just needed a bit of time away.”
She pulls the mask away. “Please don’t do that again. I was scared you weren’t coming back.”
Her words break my heart. “I’ll always come back, Danielle. You never have to worry about that. Never, you hear me?”
Her lip trembles slightly. “Okay.” She nods. “Where did you go?”
“To Aunt Teresa’s house. She actually gave me something to give you.”
I get up to grab the bag I dropped when Danielle barreled into me and hand it to her.
“What is it?”
“Open it and see,” I tell her and sit back down.
Grabbing one handle in each hand, she pulls the bag open. The knot in my chest loosens when she smiles.
“Art supplies.” She beams up at me. “A whole bunch of them.”
“Aunt Teresa said she’s going to come visit soon and she expects a couple of pictures from you.”
“I can make her a hundred with everything she sent.”
I laugh. “I’m sure two or three will do just fine. Save some for me and Dad.”
She lifts her head from peeking in the bag of goodies, her expression turning serious once again.
“Are you okay now?”
I tug her toward me and place a kiss against her forehead. “I will be soon.”
Just as soon as I get out of this godforsaken town and away from the girl who so callously wrecked me.
Getting to my feet, movement out of the corner of my eye has me looking over at dad. Concern draws down his brows as he leans against the wall watching Danielle and me. I’ve ignored all phone calls and texts over the last couple of days, including his. He knew I was at Aunt Teresa’s house. If he needed me for anything important all he had to do was call his sister.
“Danielle, why don’t you go find a place in your room for your new supplies?” Dad suggests, and I know it’s so he can talk to me in private. I really don’t want to talk about what happened, but I’ve got to give him something to explain my disappearance.
After Danielle leaves the room, he walks over to the couch and sits. He tips his chin to the other end. “Take a seat.”
I’m exhausted and want nothing more than a shower and to sleep, but I walk over and take a seat anyway.
“You wanna tell me what happened to make you up and leave like that?” he asks, getting comfortable with one arm stretched out on the back of the couch.
“Just some shit that happened with Rylee.” I lean forward, rest my elbows on my knees, and clasp my hands together. “It’s over between us.”
“What happened?”
I sigh. “Dad, I really don’t want to get into details right now. I just drove eight hours and I’m tired.”
I feel his eyes on me for several long seconds, but he thankfully doesn’t force the issue. “It’s a shame. I really liked the girl.”
I grunt. “I did, too, but apparently she didn’t feel the same.”
“You sure about that? You sure it’s not something you can’t work out?”
I bark out a harsh laugh. “I’m pretty damn sure. Even more sure that it’s certainly not something we can work out.”
Just then, there’s a loud knock on the door.