Page 159 of Redemption
The end of it all.
“Don’t. Don’t say it. I don’t want you to say it,” she croaks, tears streaming down her face.
But I don’t offer her comfort. I don’t reach out and wipe the tears away or pull her into a hug. I don’t do any of the things that my fingers itch to do because that would be unfair to her—to the us we could have been before her brother’s death.
Clenching my fingers at my side, I say the words that will break us. “I didn’t ask you to.”
Chapter 48
Mallorie Jade
There’s banging coming from my front door.
Last night was a long night. I had trouble falling asleep after Hayes dropped me off at my house. I tossed and turned all night, thinking about Tanner.
He’s angry—and I get that. His world is changing. That’s enough to make anyone mad, but I don’t know how to help him overcome the anger.
I never knew how to help Langston get over it, either.
With a sigh, I slide the blankets off my legs and grab my phone to check the time, but when I tap the screen, it stays black. I must have forgotten to plug it in last night.
The hardwood floor is cold beneath my feet as I walk the ten feet out of my bedroom to the front door.
Through the window, I see the flash of a police uniform.
Hayes isn’t supposed to work today.
My stomach drops, remembering another time when an officer stood outside my house unexpectedly.
My body shakes as I reach for the knob and open the door.
Campbell stands on my porch, and for once, he’s not wearing his signature goofy grin. His face is somber as he scratches the back of his head. “Mallorie Jade.”
“What, Campbell? What’s wrong? Where is Hayes?” My voice trembles with each question, threatening to release thetears. There’s a hitch in my breathing that I can’t control, and Campbell must realize this because he steps through the door and wraps me up in one of his big teddy bear hugs.
“Oh no, MJ. I’m sorry. I didn’t think about what this would look like to you. Hayes is okay. It’s Tanner. He’s missing.”
The tears break loose, but I pull my head back from his chest to look at him. “What do you mean he’s missing?”
“Theo called Hayes this morning. I don’t have all the details, but Hayes is on his way over there now. He tried to call you, but your phone kept going to voicemail. I offered to come here so you wouldn’t be out of the loop.”
“I forgot to charge it,” I say, dropping my head and letting it smack against his chest.
Stupid.
After Langston died, I’m overly cautious about keeping my phone on, so why, on the one morning I needed it, had I forgotten to charge it?
Campbell’s hand finds my hair, giving my head a friendly pat like he’s comforting a puppy.
And a strangled laugh escapes me.
“Campbell, you are the worst at comforting people.”
He gives my head another pat. “I know.”
I don’t pull back from it, though. I let him comfort me while my mind races a mile a minute, thinking about Tanner.
Where is he?
