Right Number, Wrong Girl

She’d wanted me to stand up for her. To back her up. To support her.

I hadn’t.

I’d done none of those fucking things.

“No,” I said to Dad, trying to walk around him. “I have to go after her. I have to—”

I have to tell her that I’m falling in love with her and she can’t leave.

“Hugo.” Dad didn’t let me go. “There are decisions that have to be made, questions to be asked, and stories to be told. We must figure out the truth. Your family needs you right now.”

My nostrils flared as I dragged my gaze from the darkness that had swallowed her car to my father’s eyes. “What if you’re stopping me going after someone that could be that to me right now?”

He sighed, his eyes softening. “Son. One step at a time.”

Every part of me ached with the need to go after her. Every single person in that room who’d known the truth hadn’t stood up for Sophie the way she’d deserved.

I should have stepped up, but I didn’t.

Shit, even my sister had spoken up.

Sophie deserved so much better than that.

“Let me go.” My words were a plea. “Dad. I have to go after her.”

Dad glanced over my shoulder. “If you go after her, you will do nothing but fight. If you want to argue, turn around and go back inside.”

“No, I have to—”

“She is no state to drive to London tonight,” he said softly. “If you wake up tomorrow with a clear head and wish to chase her to Singapore, I will happily book your plane ticket for you.”

I clenched my jaw.

“I can see how you feel about her. I like her. A lot.” His lips tugged up. “She’s vivacious. She’s got some balls, and I’m not surprised you have feelings for her. There’s a reason I suggested you make her dinner the other night.”

I fucking knew it.

“Your feelings will still be there tomorrow morning.”

“I can’t let her leave.”

“Yes, you can,” Dad said calmly. “Blame it on me. The local graveyard heard you shouting her name, so she certainly did. If we get several ghosts called Sophie show up, I shall blame you.”

I shook him off and touched my pockets again as if my keys would have magically appeared. “Sod this. I’ll walk.”

“Hugo Charles Devon, you stop right there.”

My father’s voice was so deathly calm in a way I’d never heard before that I had no choice.

“What are you going to do if you go after her? Can you bring her back to this? To that insanity inside that house?” He raised his eyebrows. “No. You cannot, and you know that.”

“I can’t let her—”

“And you won’t let her go.” His look was pointed. “You can let her, but you won’t. But you do need to step up now for your family.”

I shrugged him off and rubbed my hand through my hair. What if this meant I lost Sophie? She was alone here, and I couldn’t stand the idea of that.

“Hugo.”