Page 99 of When You Stayed
Which, if true, meant my father had changed his tune regarding Ford. I wish he would be anti-Ford again, because then I wouldn’t have to endure the scent of his spicy cologne that lingered at the base of his neck. I craved burying my nose there. Every time I walked out of my room I smelled it. He felt like a ghost, and yet he’d make it a point to lay eyes on me once a day.
As if he couldn’t continue with his day if he didn’t.
On the sixth day, my sister made her way into my room, finding me at the window. I stared out at the spring weather, missing the fields I used to walk through. I wanted to go down there, but I also knew that nothing felt the same. Rodney hadn’t really considered me for that job, it was all tied to the club, like everything in my life was. That club made up half the blood in my veins. The Hollow made up the other half.
“You’re still moping?” Taryn asked, blowing out a breath that made her bangs fly up.
I kept staring outside at the fields. “What else should I do? Go to work, or maybe I should disappear every other day like you.”
“Ouch. You’re bitchy today.” I felt the ice in my sister’s tone, but I didn’t care. What I said was true. She’d been gone way more than she ever was in the past, and she’d yet to talk to me about it.
Turning toward her, I tried to keep my temper in check. “I think I’m warranted some bitchy days.”
Her face fell, and it made me want to dig into the secrets she was keeping, but I was exhausted and didn’t have the bandwidth to care at the moment.
“You are. I’m sorry.” She finally moved to sit next to me. “I came to gossip.”
I never could turn down any good gossip, but I was still irritated with her. My arms were crossed tightly while I turned back to the window, but that didn’t deter her.
“I was just downstairs and I overheard Dad on the phone.” She hesitated, which pulled my attention to her. Taryn’s brows cavedas her hand came up to my shoulder. “Ford’s house burned down.”
I froze, unsure if I was delirious or still sleeping. “What did you just say?”
Taryn’s worried expression deepened. “Ford’s house…I guess it caught on fire last night, and since he was here, no one caught it in time. It’s almost completely gone, Royce.”
Shooting to my feet, I brushed her hold off and began pacing. My heart was already too bruised from his and my father’s lies, but now this…this—he could have been hurt. I tried to swallow past the lump in my throat, but I couldn’t.
“Is he okay?”Oh God.“Is Gus okay?”
Taryn got up and carefully gathered my hands into hers. “It’s okay, calm down.”
It was difficult to breathe. I couldn’t seem to get any air down. I kept picturing his kitchen burning, and poor Gus trapped inside. “Where is Ford now?”
“I don’t know. Dad was talking on the phone with him.”
I brushed past her, realizing too late that I was in my pajamas. Turning back toward my dresser, I yanked out a pair of jeans and a T-shirt. “Where did they put my bike key when they brought it back?”
Taryn hesitated, which had me glaring at her over my shoulder.
“It’s on the hook downstairs, but, Royce, maybe you should stay and?—”
Once I was dressed, I ignored her and hurried downstairs.
“Royce, I don’t think it’s safe for you to go—” Taryn yelled from behind me as I scaled the stairs. My mom peeked out from the kitchen, catching my eye.
Her mouth opened. “Hi honey, I—” I walked past her, cutting her off. I grabbed my key then slammed the door behind me.
I was two feet from my bike when I heard my father. “Royce, honey…wait!”
Ignoring him, I slid my helmet on and started my bike.
“We don’t know who ordered the hit, we know they want you…honey, please. Ford would lose his mind if he knew you left here without protection.”
I lifted my head and slid my visor up and snapped, “Then protect me. You owe me at least that much.”
His green gaze slid to the ground, but I caught the small nod. I didn’t give him time to get his key, or anything else. I took off down the driveway, knowing he’d catch up.
The fire department was still in front of Ford’s house when I pulled up. My boots landed against the asphalt as I took in the charred, smoking mess in front of me. My heart did a full dive into my stomach. All of Ford’s things were inside, pictures of him with his family, and memories with me. Our first sleepover, and the first time I traced over his soft skin that held its own set of memories.
