Page 22 of Embers in the Dark

“Mr. Rios,” Tucker puts his hand on his shoulder, “we spoke to the police and they’re handling it right now. Let them do their job. Let’s focus on Baylee please, try not to stress her out more.”

“Why? Why would he do this to you, sweetie?” My mom has tears coming down her face now.

“I broke up with him and he just lost his mind,” I explain.

“Don’t worry, we’ll get you all fixed up. Then back to Boston and home. Okay, Baylee?” My mom looks at me like she’ll make it all better.

“Mom, it’s okay. I have a plan. I’m, um, not going to stay at home anymore,” I tell her. I look down and fiddle with a string that’s come loose on the blanket in my lap.

“What do you mean?” my mom says.

My brother chimes in at the same time, “What are you guys talking about?”

“I forgot to tell you, Danny.” I look over my mom’s shoulder and up at my brother. “I’m transferring to Orange University in Boston. It happened last week. That was sort of part of the reason I was breaking up with Myles. And, well, yeah, then this happened.” I shrug.

I look back at my mom. “But I’m not going to stay at home anymore. I’m going to, um”—my eyes swing over to Tucker then back at my parents, bouncing between them—“to stay with Tucker for a little while. I think it’s best until things settle down a bit.”

My parents look at one another but stay silent.

I look over to Danny and he’s just taking it all in. His eyes bounce around from person to person, arms crossed at his chest. Why does he look to be fuming at Tucker right now of all people? Doesn’t he understand I was just attacked and I need to stay somewhere that Myles won’t look for me?

“Malloy, can I talk to youright now?” My brother doesn’t wait for a response and stalks out of the room.

Tucker looks over at me and quickly follows Danny out without a word. What am I missing here?

“Why does Danny look so upset at Tucker?” I ask my parents.

“He’s just upset you’re hurt. We were all so worried aboutyou when we got Malloy’s call,” my mom says, pushing my hair aside, inspecting my head as if she’s going to find something the doctor and nurses may have missed.

“Mom, I promise I’m fine,” I assure her, although I know deep down I’m more shaken up than I’m letting on.

What Myles did to me is anything but fine, although I can’t let my parents know how deep this goes for me. Myles has been chipping at my psyche little by little for months, but what he did to me tonight has stripped me to my core. And if I sit too long with my thoughts, I don’t know how I’ll break down.

The curtain opens and a gentleman emerges with a soft smile.

“Ms. Rios, I’m Jackson. I’m taking you to your CT scan. Can you tell me your full name and your date of birth before we head out?”

Jackson walks up to the computer in the room and scans his badge to log in. I assume he’s looking at my chart.

“Hi, um, yes.” I pull my sheet over my legs tighter. “Baylee Rios, date of birth November twenty-sixth, two-thousand-three.”

“Great. Okay, I’ll wheel you over and your family can wait for you here and we’ll be right back.” He unlocks the gurney while addressing my parents. My mom nods at Jackson and my dad squeezes my hand.

“We’ll wait for you right here. Don’t you worry, we aren’t going anywhere sweetie,” my mom reassures me.

“Love you, Baylee.” My dad kisses my head.

“Love you.” My mom kisses my hand.

I swallow down the lump forming in my throat. The emotional roller coaster that tonight has been for me is new and I try to let go a little of the tension I’m holding in my shoulders as I’m moved through the little room.

As Jackson opens the curtain all the way, I see my brother and Tucker in a heated argument, hushed voices exchangedbetween the two of them, and I can’t help how my brows furrow at the interaction.

The minute my brother sees me coming by, he halts all conversation and looks over. Tucker looks over too, irritation evident in his demeanor and it takes everything in me to not tell Jackson to stop moving so I can ask what in the world is going on between them. Why in the world are they arguing right now? What could provoke a fight between these best friends right now of all times?

CHAPTER 8

Tucker

---