“That scared the shit out of me,” Scarlet says, and I know it did. She runs a hand through her hair. She paces away from her cart and leans against the shelves. “Just about gave me a heart attack.” It takes her a minute to shake it off.
“Are you okay?” I question her although she’s starting to seem a little crazy. It was just a phone ringing … not a gunshot or something intense happening at The Club.
“I’m completely fine,” Scarlet says, attempting to play it off. “And he doesn’t give shit away. I could like, literally hear his voice in those texts.” Before I can respond she adds, pushing her own cart behind mine, “You should also learn the art of sexting.”
“How about we look at the rest of the sheets, instead?” I joke and just like that, it’s all back to free and easy and putting thoughts of Declan on hold.
We spend another fifteen minutes in the bedding aisle. I go with a set of cream sheets with a higher thread count than anything I’ve bought before. They have a soft cotton feel, no slippery satin, and they’re somehow lightweight and sturdy at the same time. It’s going to feel freaking amazing to sleep on these. I also pick out a new comforter, a high-end one that I could absolutely see in an expensive hotel, in a coordinating color, just a slightly darker cream from the sheets but with that texture that caught my eye earlier, and new pillowcases. “Your bedroom is going to be the lap of luxury,” Scarlet says. She has her eye on the sheets too. “I didn’t think I wanted new bedding, but maybe I do.”
It takes a few more minutes for her to choose a set of her own, and we make our way to the checkout counters. It’s a busy day and there’s a line. We get into one together, me first, then Scarlet. When I look back at her, she’s obviously distracted, biting her lip and staring at the magazines near the back of the line.
“Are you okay?”
Her expressions brightens up and her red lips curve up in a smile. “You’re a good friend, Brae. But I’m fine.” She waves me off.
I greet the cashier and as she’s ringing up my items, my phone buzzes. “I have to warn you,” I turn to face Scarlet with the phone raised, “I’m getting a call.”
Scarlet laughs. “Go ahead, answer. I’m fine.”
I’m expecting it to be another unknown number, or a spam call, but instead it’s my mom’s name on the screen. “Hi, Mama,” I answer quickly. “I’m at the checkout counter at the mall; can I call you right back?”
“Braelynn,” she says in a tone that chills my blood.
“Mama, is everything okay?”
Scarlet’s gaze whips to mine and I can’t pull my eyes away as my mother says, “No, nena,” sympathy coating her words.
My stomach goes cold at her tone, and it drops to the floor. I turn away from the cashier and from Scarlet, wrapping an arm around my stomach and drop my voice. “What happened?”
“I have to tell you some news,” she says, her voice shaking. “Is there a place you can sit down?”
Declan
“I won’t stay long,” I tell Nate as I shrug my jacket over my shoulders. As I’m checking my watch, I add, “Just keep the door open for her, she has plenty of files to sort while she waits.”
“I’m sure your brothers will be happy to see you and if anything comes up, let me know.”
Slipping my wallet into my back jean pockets, I tell him I will. Home is a good forty minutes away, which is one of the reasons I stay here at night. Too much quiet, too much downtime driving in a car for that long. If I leave now, I’ll be there right on time.
I can’t help the way my lips pull up at the thought of family dinner. My brother is right, it has been too long.
“I may call her on the way,” I say absently, as if I’d need Nate to tell her that. My good little pet always answers when I message her.
“I’ll handle everything here and the pickup from Joshua,” Nate says and nods, his hands folded in front of him. It’s the first time I’ve really noticed him all night. He’s got a fresh cut and shave, new shoes it looks like too.
“Sharp suit,” I compliment him, gesturing toward it with my phone.
Just as he cracks a smile, loosening up to say something, there’s a knock on the door, chaotic and demanding, followed by a troubled tone, “Declan.”
Before I can answer, my blood chilling, Braelynn barrels into the room. The door wasn’t locked. The sight of her is something I didn’t expect. It’s not time for her to be in and she’s dressed in worn jeans and a burgundy sweater that’s far too large on her.