Page 119 of When a Soul Cries

“I know that.” My eyes dropped briefly toward the diaper bag sitting near her feet before returning to the road. “But if that’s all y’all got, what are you going back there for?”

Sol didn’t answer right away. Her lips pressed together, and I watched her swallow before she finally looked down at the baby.

“I paid for the room through tomorrow,” she admitted softly.

My jaw tightened.

Of course she did.

She wasn’t trying to go back because there was anything waiting for her there.

She wanted to go back because she’d already paid for the damn room.

“Sol.”

“What?” she asked, finally looking at me.

“You’re not sleeping there just because you already paid for it.”

Her eyebrows pulled together. “Rome, I can’t afford to just waste money.”

“And I’m not asking you to waste anything.” I glanced at her before turning my attention back to the road. “I’m asking you to let me get you and that baby somewhere safe tonight.”

She went quiet again.

“You don’t have to go back there,” I added, softer this time.

Sol looked down at the baby, and I watched some of the fight leave her face.

“Then where am I supposed to go?”

“With me.”

Her eyes snapped toward mine.

“To my house,” I clarified.

“Rome—”

“Listen before you start fussing.”

“I’m not fussing.”

“You getting ready to.”

She rolled her eyes.

Definitely still in there.

“You can eat,” I continued. “Take a shower. Get the baby cleaned up. Sleep somewhere safe. Tomorrow, when you’ve had some rest, you can decide what you want to do next.”

“I don’t need you to save me.”

The words came sharper this time.

I glanced over.

“I didn’t say anything about saving you.”