Page 85 of All of Me

“Of course,” I reply, grinning. “But let’s grab your stuff first, okay?”

We step inside, and immediately, the air feels different—tense, heavy. Sabrina’s voice cuts through the quiet, sharp and biting, and I round the corner to see her and Alex in the kitchen, their faces flushed with anger.

“I’m not doing this with you right now,” Sabrina snaps, her tone icy.

“You’re not doing anything,” Alex fires back, his voice loud enough to make Barrett flinch beside me.

“Hey,” I say softly, crouching down to Barrett’s level. “Why don’t you wait in the van with Callie for a minute? She’d love to hear about your toy.”

Barrett hesitates, his eyes darting between me and his mom.

“It’s okay, buddy,” I say gently. “I’ll be right out.”

He nods slowly, his small frame stiff as he heads for the door. Once he’s outside, I straighten and step into the kitchen, my chest tight with unease.

“Everything okay in here?” I ask, keeping my voice steady.

Sabrina startles, her eyes darting to me. “Owen,” she says, her voice strained.

Alex turns his glare on me, his jaw tightening. “Perfect timing, man. Maybe you can tell Sabrina to quit being such a?—”

“That’s enough,” I interrupt sharply, stepping further into the room.

Alex’s nostrils flare as he takes a step toward Sabrina, his posture radiating aggression.

“Back off,” I say, my voice firm.

“This isn’t your business,” Alex snaps, his words laced with venom.

“When it involves Barrett’s safety, it is,” I counter, my fists clenching at my sides.

For a moment, the tension crackles between us, thick and suffocating. Then Alex moves closer, his jaw set, and I feel my body go rigid.

Sabrina’s voice breaks through the standoff, trembling but resolute. “Alex, just leave.”

He ignores her, his attention locked on me.

I take a deep breath, pulling out my phone and pressing Will’s number.

He picks up on the second ring. “What’s up?”

“Need you at Sabrina’s,” I say, keeping my voice firmly calm. “Now.”

Alex’s eyes narrow as he realizes who I’m calling. “You can’t just call people into my house?—”

“You can leave,” I cut him off, my voice firm, meeting his glare without flinching. My entire body feels coiled, like a spring wound too tight, ready to snap if Alex makes another wrong move.

Will’s voice comes through the phone, steady and reassuring. “Be there in five.”

Alex hesitates, his fists clenching at his sides, the muscles in his jaw twitching. For a moment, I think he’s going to charge. His eyes dart between me and Sabrina, wild with frustration, his breath coming short and fast like he’s trying to steady himself.

“You’re lucky I’m not in the mood,” he mutters finally, his words sharp enough to cut. He storms past me, shoving his shoulder against mine as he goes. The door slams behind him with a deafening crack, the sound reverberating through the house.

The room falls silent except for Sabrina’s uneven breathing. The tension lingers, thick and suffocating, wrapping around the space like a vise. Sabrina’s hands grip the edge of the counter, her knuckles white.

“You okay?” I ask, softening my voice as I step closer.

Her head jerks in a quick nod, but she doesn’t meet my eyes. “I’m fine. Just... take Barrett, please.”

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