Surrendering (Surrender 1)

We run out the back door and my phone rings. I have four missed calls and shut my phone off without answering it. We hurry back towards Robbie’s truck because he refuses to go to another bar.

When we get home, Ella is sitting on the couch with Will. She takes one look at us and starts laughing. “Another fun night out on the town?”

I laugh back at her. “I guess you can say that. If you count Declan getting mauled by a skanky brunette and yelling at me in front of a bar full of people. Then me walking out on him- then yeah, typical night.” I sit down next to her and she raises her nose at me.

“I stink; I’m going to shower. Talk to y’all later.” I head to my room.

When I get out of the shower, Robbie is on my bed hanging up his phone. He gives me a look I know too well.

I sink on the bed next to him and curl up. “What is it now?”

“You

need to give him a break; he’s insane about you in a good way.”

“You think that little display tonight was a good thing?”

“Not really, but you should’ve seen him when he couldn’t find you. You disappeared without telling any of us. His reaction was normal.”

“He seemed a little preoccupied with that floozy on his lap.”

“RJ, he pushed her off of him like a rabid dog. Then he looked for you and freaked out when he couldn’t find you. When you didn’t come back right away, he had all of us looking for you.”

“I only went to the bathroom with Abbi.”

“Baby Girl, I know you have been sheltered from the details, but when you were kidnapped, it was pandemonium. Not just with our family, but Declan went crazy. He was scared shitless. He didn’t sleep, he barely ate, and he stayed in your room at Mom and Dad’s to be closer to you. When we found you, he almost fought me to get to you, but I knew Christie couldn’t be allowed to see him. He blames himself for what she did and he isn’t getting over it. So if he wants to know when you go to the bathroom, you should cut him some slack.”

“I’m sorry.”

“I think you should tell him that. And just for the record, I like that he keeps tabs on you. If something happened to you, I’d never be the same.”

I squeeze him tight against me. “You wanna stay here tonight?”

“Yeah, let me shower really quick. I need to let Finn know too.”

“What’s the deal with Finn? He hasn’t been around lately. I haven’t seen him since dinner a few weeks ago.”

Robbie stiffened against me, “I think you should talk to him. I’m not getting in the middle of it.” Then he goes to take his shower.

There’s a pit in my stomach because I know I’ve done something to piss Finn off. What it is, I have no idea.

I turn on my phone and find several messages and texts from Declan. I decide to call him to get it over with. He answers instantly. “Sparkle, are you okay?” He asks quietly.

“Yes, I’m fine. Where are you?”

“I came home. I needed to get to sleep for tomorrow anyway. We’re heading to Franklin early.”

He doesn’t invite me to go with them so I reply, “Okay.”

“I’m sorry I yelled at you tonight. I lost my head when you went missing. I had images flashing through my mind that I never want to see again.”

“I’m sorry too. Robbie explained some things to me tonight that make things clearer. I wish you would have talked to me about those few days when I was gone and what you went through. I may have had a different reaction.”

“I never want to feel that helpless again. You have every right to be mad at me, but bear with me- Will you go with us tomorrow?”

“Do you want me to- for the whole day?”

“Yes, I need you with me. Maybe you can show me how to tweet as a way to apologize to you.”