Page 27 of Always Right

I did feel like the goddamn wolf all the time now. Waiting for Hannah to show some weakness, waiting for her to leave a gap where I could consume her once again and show her how good we could be. I couldn’t live like this…pretending to not be crazy about her when all I wanted to do was kiss away the pain. But she would never let me. Not after the way I hurt her.

“Uncle…it’s the wolf’s turn!” Lily shot me an exasperated look and handed me the open book.

“Geez…” I cleared my throat, forcing my voice to become even deeper. “Uh…all the better to see you with.” Evie stifled a laugh, saying her line when a phone began to buzz.

Nathan frowned, pulling his phone from his pocket and immediately, a deep sense of dread set in. Something wasn’t right. And when I glanced at Nathan’s phone and saw Hannah’s name, it only increased.

She never calls.

She only texts.

“Hannah…” Nathan paused, his eyes widening slightly when she said something on the other line and stood up, letting go of Evie’s hand. “What? Are you okay?”

Shit. Shit. Shit.

“I’m on my way.”

Nathan hung up, staring at his phone for a few seconds in silence, as if he was still processing what Hannah had said.

“What happened?” Evie asked for the both of us, and I was glad, because I wasn’t sure I could fucking talk.

“Someone broke into the gallery as Hannah was closing.”

Fuck.

Everything else was a blur…his words, everything surrounding us. “She’s…uh…she’s okay, I think. But I’m heading back to the gallery.”

“I’m going with you,” I said, standing up with the girls still in my arms.

“Derek—” Evie stood up, eyes wide and shaking her head.

“I’m going, Evie.”

Nathan nodded once, looking at his wife briefly…but enough for her to know what he meant.

“I’ll watch the girls,” Evie said, her lips tilting up. “But Nathan will drive, Derek.”

I nodded, placing the girls in her arms.

I needed to see her.

Needed to know if she was okay.

Fuck…

Please be okay.

Chapter 10

Hannah

I sold a lot of pieces that night.

More than ever before.

I glanced around the gallery, proud when I saw all the empty spaces. It wasn’t in my plans to stay later, but I figured since the inspiration hit, it was best for me to put up the new paintings from clients who were still waitlisted. My mind worked quickly, trying to come up with a theme for the next few weeks…one that would stand out as I walked to the backroom while typing different taglines on my phone to promote on social media.

I shouldn’t have been so focused on my phone.

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