Page 95 of Always Be an Us

"Yeah, I just grew out of it I guess."

He glances at me, and I immediately look out the window, avoiding his eyes. I don't know if he can tell I'm lying, but I really don't want to talk about that right now, on top of everything else.

We soon arrive at my home and find Rick's truck in the driveway. The man himself stands with crossed arms on the porch.

Shit. I forgot to call Rick and tell him I couldn't make it to my shift yesterday.

I was spaced out for most of the day, and went to bed early, encased in Declan's arms.

Very irresponsible of me, considering that I'm supposed to be helping him run the place.

"What the hell is happening?" Rick frowns as I approach. "You don't show up for work, and then when I come looking for you, your house is a wreck."

"I'm sorry, Rick. I forgot to call you." I sigh. "Someone broke in."

His voice changes from censure immediately to concern. "What? Why?"

"I don't know." I shrug. "The police don't have any clues yet. Declan and I just came to pick up some stuff for me to wear for the next few days."

"I hope you're not thinking of staying here. Come on, you can stay with me."

"Um, no that's not necessary. I'll just stay at the hotel."

"I got her a room there," Declan explains and Rick frowns even deeper. He doesn't like that idea one bit. He also looks like he's in his lecturing mood, so I choose to make my escape now.

"I'm going to go upstairs to grab some stuff. Declan will explain everything to you."

I throw Declan an apologetic look as I hurry inside, picking my feet up gingerly to avoid the debris on the floor. I feel a little sorry for leaving Declan to deal with Rick, but he'll probably be better at it than me.

For some reason, arguing with Rick always feels like I'm arguing with a dad and I can never quite stand up to him, so I always end up going along with what he says.

But I don't want to stay with Rick. He lives in a cramped little lodge far from civilization, and his home smells like fish and men's sweat.

I head up to my room, noting from the entrance that the intruder tore it apart too. My mattress is on the floor, my dresser emptied and thrown over, the closet door ripped off the hinges.

Unexpected emotion lodges in my throat, seeing my room like this.

I've had the same room since I was a little girl, with a few upgrades in the design over the years. The pink walls have been there forever, but I painted unicorns around the bay window when I was twelve. At fifteen, I put up a whole bunch of boy band posters over my bed. And when I was sixteen, I repainted the corner white, and Tate and I posted a bunch of sticky notes with affirmations on them.

And now, it feels like some destructive maniac has invaded my safe space.

I take a deep breath, holding back the tears, and take a duffel bag out of the closet. I start picking up some of the clothes from the floor, getting into the groove of it, and letting time pass by.

But barely ten minutes later, my room door opens up again.

Declan briefly scans the floor and then his eyes meet mine. Tension grips his jaw.

"We have to go," he says.

"What? Why?"

"Someone broke into my office, too."

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Declan

After Emma leaves me alone with the big man, Rick, the atmosphere becomes more strained. I notice that he pointedly and awkwardly refuses to look at me. He starts by scanning the damage in the room, touching a few torn fixtures on the wall, and muttering under his breath.

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