Out of Breath (Breathing, #3)(50)

‘She’s not staying at a motel, especially that dive along the highway, if that’s the one you’re talking about.’

Sara flashed her eyes up at me in frustration. ‘Do you have a better plan? Because I can’t let my mother know she did this. She’d lose it.’

‘She can stay at my house.’ I said it before I’d really given it much thought. ‘She can stay in the guest room.’

‘No. Way,’ Sara retorted firmly. ‘That is the worst idea ever.’

‘If you want my help getting her out of here, then she’s staying at my house.’

‘Evan, why would you want that?’ I didn’t say anything. But after seeing Emma like this, I knew there was more going on than I understood. I was already about to split open with the questions that I’d been left with two years ago, and this was more than I could handle.

Sara didn’t push for the answer that I didn’t have. She kept shaking her head, at a loss for a better plan.

‘Then I’m staying too,’ Sara insisted.

‘Fine. You can stay in the other guest room.’

‘And you know she’s going to be beyond pissed off when she wakes up,’ she warned me.

‘I think where she wakes up will be the least of her worries.’ I nodded towards the passed-out girl on the closet floor, unable to connect her to the girl I used to know. It seemed impossible they were the same person.

‘Pull my car around to the back,’ I instructed. ‘Come in and get us when the path through the kitchen is clear. I think most people have left by now anyway.’

Sara stared at me, the disapproval heavy on her face. ‘One night, Evan. That’s it.’

I shrugged. ‘Fine. You’ll have to convince her to stay with you tomorrow, because that motel’s not an option.’

Sara reached out and took the keys from my hand. She walked forward a few steps, then hesitated, turning back to take the silver box with her.

I leaned against the doorframe, listening to the deep breaths pass through Emma’s full lips. I wasn’t prepared for any of this.

‘Emma, what happened?’ I pulled out my phone to check the time, waiting for Sara to return, and stared at the unconscious girl on the floor with a disgruntled breath.

‘We’re all set,’ Sara declared. I turned away from the unrecognizable figure. Sara picked up the shoes and retrieved the bag from the closet. I knelt down next to Emma, sliding an arm beneath her thighs and wrapping the other around her ribs. Her body fell into me, her arm dangling by her side. I stood, the movement not stirring her at all. Sara tucked the skirt of her dress in between my arm and her legs before leading me out the door.

I could feel her breath against my neck and my shoulders tightened, not comfortable having her this close to me. I swallowed against the tension in my jaw and followed Sara quickly through the kitchen into the cool spring night.

I set her on the passenger seat, and Sara closed the door. ‘I’m going to the motel to get our bags. I won’t be long.’ I shook my head with a half grin, knowing she didn’t want Emma to wake up without her there.

I sat in the driver’s seat and looked over at her again. The pale light of the night softened the lines of her face, reminding me of the girl I once knew. She could have easily been just sleeping, hiding her haunted eyes under her lids. Watching her peaceful face, something roused inside me, and I knew I was in trouble.





16


Yesterday


‘COULD USE A LITTLE HELP HERE,’ I HOLLERED through the screen door. I heard loud footsteps approaching from inside the house.

‘What the hell?’ Jared exclaimed.

‘Just open the frickin’ door, Jared.’ He propped the door open and let me pass.

‘What happened?’ he asked, following me through the kitchen.

‘Vodka happened,’ I grumbled. ‘We found her passed out in a closet.’

‘Holy shit.’ Jared gawked, remaining a step behind me as I climbed the stairs. ‘And you thought bringing her here was the best idea?’

‘It’s only one night.’ I waited for Jared to open the door, but he just stood there and stared at me. ‘Come on. Open the door.’

He shook his head in disapproval. ‘I can’t believe you’re carrying Emma into our house … passed out.’ Jared pushed the door open and followed me into the room, flipping on the lights.

‘You sound like Sara,’ I mumbled, then added, ‘who is staying here too.’ I grinned, awaiting his reaction.

‘What?’ Jared’s eyes stretched wide. ‘Evan, are you f*cking serious?!’

‘Fold down the bedding,’ I instructed with a light chuckle. ‘Now you’ll get the chance to talk to her.’ I gently laid Emma on the crisp white sheet.

‘This isn’t exactly how I’d prepared to talk to her.’

Emma’s black skirt spread on the bed, and I noticed the large bandage below her right knee. Blotches of blood were seeping through. I remained standing above her, scanning her body for other injuries with a knot in my stomach.

‘And you kidnapping Emma wasn’t the best way for you to talk to her,’ Jared snapped.

I leaned over and brushed the hair from her cheek, then eased the covers over her unmoving body.