Page 86 of All of Me

The words hit me like a punch to the gut. There’s a fear in her voice that she’s trying to mask, a weariness that seeps into the air between us. I want to ask more, to dig deeper, but the closed-off set of her shoulders tells me I won’t get much right now.

“Call me if you need anything,” I say quietly, letting the sincerity in my tone do the work.

She doesn’t respond, her head still bowed, and it leaves a bitter taste in my mouth as I grab Barrett’s bag from where it’s slung over a chair.

Back in the van, the shift in energy is immediate. Barrett is perched in his car seat, holding up his new toy for Callie to admire, his voice bubbling with excitement.

“And look, it can spin!” he says, twisting a gear on the brightly colored robot.

Callie leans back in her seat, smiling warmly at him. “That’s awesome, buddy. You’ll have to show me how it works when we get home.”

Her tone is light, and Barrett beams, but my grip tightens on the steering wheel as I sit there. My chest feels heavy, the image of Sabrina standing in that kitchen replaying in my mind on a loop—her shoulders hunched, her face pale, her hands trembling against the counter.

Callie glances over at me from the passenger seat, her brows knitting together in concern. “Everything okay?” she asks softly, her voice careful, like she’s trying not to unsettle Barrett, who’s happily playing with his toy in the backseat with the girls.

I force a nod, my grip tightening on the steering wheel. “Not really,” I admit. “But I’ll explain later.”

Her lips press into a thin line, and her eyes linger on me, trying to read between the lines of what I’m not saying. Callie’s perceptive like that, always noticing when something’s off. Before she can push further, Barrett pipes up from the backseat, showing off his toy with a triumphant shout.

Callie turns to him, her face softening as she smiles and asks him questions about his new treasure. I can hear the warmth in her voice as she makes him feel like he’s the center of the universe. We sit in the truck waiting for Will to arrive.

As we drive, the hum of the engine fills the silence between Barrett’s chatter and Callie’s gentle replies. I glance over at her again, the weight of what just happened pressing harder against my ribs. She’s here, safe and steady, and that’s everything I want for Sabrina too.

Minutes feel like hours when Will’s truck finally pulls up behind us in Sabrina’s driveway. I exhale, relief washing over me.

“Stay here,” I tell Callie.

She hesitates, her lips parting as if to argue, but then she nods, her green eyes filled with quiet understanding. “Be careful,” she says softly, her hand brushing mine for a brief second.

I climb out of the van, the warm evening air hitting me like a wall. Will steps out of his truck, his calm and measured demeanor a welcome sight.

“Thanks for coming,” I say.

Will nods, his eyes flicking toward the house. “What’s going on?”

“Alex,” I reply, the name coming out like gravel. “He and Sabrina were fighting. It got physical. He’s gone now, but… something’s not right. She’s shaken up, and I’m worried he’ll come back.

Will’s jaw tightens, and he gives a single nod. “I’ll check on her,” he says firmly. “You getting the kids home?”

“Yeah,” I say, glancing back at the van where Barrett is still talking to Callie, oblivious to the storm brewing around him. “But do me a favor and stay with her. Make sure she files a police report. She won’t listen to me, but maybe she’ll listen to you.”

“You got it,” Will replies, his tone steady and certain.

I clap a hand on his shoulder, grateful for his unwavering presence. I turn back toward the van and Callie is watching me, her expression filled with silent questions. I don’t have the answers right now, but I know she trusts me to handle it.

“You ready to head home?” I ask as I slide into the driver’s seat, my voice steady even though my chest still feels tight.

She nods, her gaze flicking between me and the house before settling on Barrett. “Yeah. Let’s go.”

As I pull away, I glance in the rearview mirror and see Will walking toward Sabrina’s front door. The sight eases some of the tension in my shoulders, knowing she’s not alone anymore, but the weight of what happened doesn’t leave me.

Barrett hums softly in the backseat, holding up his toy for Callie to admire again, and for a moment, the van feels like a safe haven from the chaos. I glance at Callie, her green eyes soft as she turns back to me, and I feel a flicker of gratitude that she’s here—steady and unshakable, calming my temper..

This isn’t over. Not for Sabrina, and not for Barrett. I’ll do whatever it takes to make sure they’re both safe.

thirty-one

BECAUSE OF YOU - KELLY CLARKSON

---