Page 137 of How You See Me
“I’m going to play it,” she confirms delicately and climbs onto my lap in the driver’s seat, cradling me as if she knows I might shatter at any moment.
I don’t move, I barely exist, as she presses play.
“Hayes,” Raidyn’s voice comes through the speaker, laced with a tone that sends goosebumps down my arms. She takes a shaky breath, and I wish I could do the same. Ican’t seem to force air into my own lungs. “Ava was admitted to the hospital. Mom found her unconscious on the floor in her room.”
Josie gasps, her hand flying to her mouth, but I’m numb. My heart races, desperately pumping blood through my hollow body.
“Mom wanted to call you herself, but as you can imagine, she’s shaken. Don’t worry,” Raidyn says quickly. “I’m with her. Kayla and Victoria are driving in tomorrow. And . . .” She hesitates, making my thoughts spiral. I brace myself and wait for her to say the unspeakable. Something I won’t recover from.
I never could have expected her to say, “Dad’s here, too.”
Every muscle fires at once. I lift Josie off my lap, gently setting her in the passenger seat before jumping from the van. My legs are already moving before I can think of the consequences.
“Hayes, wait—”
Rage and confusion tangles in my chest. I spin to face her. “Ourfather’sthere? What the hell?”
She stops and holds up the phone. “There’s more in the message.”
“Let me guess,” I snap, not meaning to. “Don’t come home until I’ve finished the trip.”
Josie flinches, her focus falling away. “Yeah,” she whispers. “That’s what she said . . .in so many words.”
“I’m so fucking tired of hearing that.” I drag both hands through my hair and pull hard, giving me a different pain to feel.
Why didn’t they tellhimto stay away? Why doesheget to be by their side, and I don’t?
Josie steps closer, tentative and cautious, but determined. “I know it hurts. What can I do?”
“I need to . . .” I trail off, biting back the words because they hurt too damn much to say out loud, much less think. I'm being pulled apart, ripping down the middle. “I want to be in two places at once.”
“Raidyn said not to come until they know more. Maybe she’ll call by the time we reach Vegas. No need to decide now.”
“I’m sorry, Josie.”
She nods, understanding my mind is made up and gently places the phone into my hand. “Then, let’s get back on the road.”
She’s trying to be strong for me, but I hear the tremble in her voice. I see the tiny fractures in her armor.
And it’s taking everything I have not to drop to my knees. Not to scream. Not to tug her into my arms and cry until I’m reduced to nothing.
But I can’t.
Ava needs me.
And Josie—she’s already breaking just to keep me whole.
???
While Josie packs up the van, I step away to call Raidyn. My hand shakes as I press the phone to my ear.
It rings twice.
“I hate this,” she says in greeting.
“Tell me about it.”
“How are you, Hayes?”
