Following Me(81)

“No. No. I’m in a cab. I’m safe for now,” she whispered.

“Good. I’m glad you’re away from him. Are you on your way here? I can go downstairs and wait for you,” he said.

She heard shuffling on the other end, like he was pulling on shoes or something.

“Garrett, no. I’m not coming back there tonight. That’s where he expects me to go. I’m not safe there,” she told him.

“Devon, you’re safe here. Where else are you going to go?” he asked.

The words hung out between them. She didn’t want Garrett to know where she was going. She didn’t want anyone to know where she was. She couldn’t risk Reid finding out.

“It doesn’t matter. I don’t feel safe. I need to hole up somewhere,” she said.

“So…you’re going to go see Brennan?” Garrett asked cautiously.

Devon closed her eyes and tilted back her head. Brennan. No, Garrett couldn’t know that was where she was going.

“No, I’m not going to see Brennan. He’s not happy with me right now. Don’t blame him. I’ll find somewhere else.”

“Devon, I don’t like this,” Garrett said.

“Well, I don’t like the possibility of getting hit again,” she said with a finality to the statement.

“I…don’t blame you. I’m so sorry, Devon. I didn’t know. I would have never let you leave if I knew,” he rambled on with his apology.

Devon shook her head, trying to understand his words. The adrenaline from her confrontation with Reid was wearing off, and she felt herself slipping toward unconsciousness. The stars were coming back, and her head was pounding. Her cheek had gone numb, and the blood had stopped, but she didn’t think feeling numb was a good thing. Numbness meant severe pain later. Her eye was swelling, and she wondered if it would seal shut.

“What are you talking about, Garrett? I’m not feeling that well,” she whispered. Her voice was slipping. This wasn’t good.

“Devon, I’m so sorry. I know you have no right to forgive me. I don’t expect you to. I wouldn’t forgive me,” he said.

“Garrett, I’m over the kiss. It doesn’t even matter anymore,” Devon said softly.

“Not the kiss, Dev,” he said. “More than that—”

“Whatever you’re talking about, it doesn’t matter. I’m alive. That’s what matters.”

Garrett sighed on the other line. “It’s not all that matters. It’s the most important thing, but it’s my fault that it’s even a consideration.”

Devon sat up slowly and tried to piece together what he was trying to tell her. Something more than the kiss. Something that mattered besides her being alive. Something that was his fault. Her heart sank.

“What are you trying to say, Garrett?” she asked, the fear of his answer creeping into her voice.

“I’m so sorry, Devon. I was the one who answered your phone when Reid called.”

Devon felt all the air whoosh out of her lungs at once. Garrett had been the one who had talked to Reid. That was how Reid had gotten to her so fast. She hadn’t gotten a chance to ask him, and likely, he would have lied anyway. It just didn’t make sense. Why would Garrett do that?

“I know. I’m sorry, Dev.”

He sounded miserable, but he knew nothing of misery compared to her.

“I was trying to protect you. I was trying to get him to leave you alone. I never expected him to show up.”

Maybe Garrett had been trying to protect her. Maybe he had answered to tell Reid to f**k off. Maybe he hadn’t expected Reid to show up, and if that were the case, he certainly wouldn’t have expected Reid to hit her. Maybe those things were true, but it was still inexcusable. Garrett was the only one who had known the whole story. He was the only one who knew what it meant to keep it all a secret.

“Devon? Are you still there?” Garrett asked into the phone.

“Yes. Just keep Hadley safe. Don’t let Reid inside. No matter what he says, don’t let him in,” Devon said, sticking to business. She didn’t know what Reid would do, and right now, that was more important than dealing with Garrett.

“Devon—”

“Do you not understand that he’s dangerous?” she asked gruffly into the phone. “Stop with the self-pity for one second, and tell me that you will do what I told you. I don’t want anyone else to get hurt.”

“I understand,” he said, her harsh words clearly sobering him up.

Devon hung up. That was all the confirmation she needed. As long as Hadley was alright, then Devon just needed to worry about herself. She couldn’t think about Garrett right now. That anger would make her boil over. The only benefit from his words was that it shocked her system, keeping her awake long enough to reach her destination.

THE CAB PULLED over, and she paid the bill. She didn’t feel too bad as long as she didn’t touch her face. She knew this was nothing compared to how she would feel tomorrow. Her head was pounding, and that was the worst part. She just wanted her headache to go away. She hoped it didn’t last that long.

Devon stood before the door with a sigh. She reached her hand up to knock, but then she dropped it back down again. There wasn’t anywhere else for her to go or anywhere else she wanted to be. Still, she felt terrible. Her injuries went far beyond the physical. She hoped, with time, she could rectify everything in her life. Time was all she had to offer. She didn’t know if it would be enough.