“Hollis.”
She jumps, knocking over the bottle of water that thankfully has a lid on it. It rolls to the floor, and she rushes to pick it up. “Sorry, you scared me.”
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing. I was just lost in thought.” She sets the bottle on the table, and her hands are trembling. She sits back down in her seat, her eyes darting around, looking everywhere but at me.
Bracing one hand on the table and the other on the back of her chair, I lean down and kiss her. At first, she’s resistant, but her shoulders fall, and she begins to kiss me back. That’s when my hand that’s on the table moves until I find her phone. Once I have it in my hand, I pull away from the kiss. Standing at my full height, I hold the phone in front of my face. It unlocks, and I look at what’s on the screen.Contact: [email protected]
Message: I’m coming for you.What. The. Fuck. “Hollis.” My voice is hard. “Who is this?”
“I-I don’t know. It’s nothing.” She reaches for her phone, but I lift my hand in the air, evading her. “Hollis.”
Those beautiful green eyes fill with tears and have me dropping to my knees. I toss her phone back on the table, and I cup her face in my hands. “You can talk to me. Tell me what’s going on.”
“I can’t.”
“Yes. You can,” I say firmly.
She shakes her head. “I don’t know. I just… I can’t talk about it.”
“Hollis. You are living in my home. With my son. Sleeping in my bed. I’m about to leave this house, and you will be in charge of making sure my son is safe. I need something more than I can’t talk about it.”
“I’m sorry,” she cries. “I don’t even know where to start. And Milo, I would never let anything happen to him. Never. Colton, you have to believe me.”
“I don’t know what to believe. You’re obviously hiding something from me. I have a child to think about, Hollis.”
“I know.” Her cries grow louder. “I know that. I’m sorry. I’m so sorry.”
“Sorry for what, Hollis. You have got to give me something.” She shakes her head again as tears flood her cheeks. As much as I want to trust her, I just can’t put my son in danger like that. I can’t leave him alone with her until I know what’s going on. Pulling my phone out of my pocket, I call my sister-in-law. “Hey, Gabs. Can you do me a huge favor? Can you watch Milo this afternoon? My last class is at five, so I should be there a little after six to pick him up.”
“Yeah, I’ll just bring him with me. He’s been fussy and is teething.” I listen to her ask about Gwen. “I canceled on her. Hollis was going to watch him, but something came up.” Again, I listen. “Thanks, Gabs. I owe you one.” I end the call and stand.
“Colton.” Sad green eyes peer up at me. They’re pleading, and although I want to comfort her, I can’t. Not until she opens up to me.
“Get ready. We’re leaving in thirty minutes.”
“What?” She wipes at her eyes. “Where are we going?”
“I’m going to work, and I can’t leave you alone.” I point at her phone. “Not after reading that. You can come with me or go home with Chase and Gabby. Take your pick.”
“I can take care of myself,” she counters, standing and placing her hands on her hips.
“That’s great, Hollis. Truly, and if I knew what you were taking care of, I might be inclined to believe you.”
“It’s a long story.”
“Then you can tell me tonight. Get ready.” I turn and walk back down the hall to Milo’s room and begin packing the diaper bag. I make sure there are plenty of diapers, a binky, some toys, and bibs. In the kitchen, I toss in a can of formula, some bottles, and the bottle of Tylenol and the teething gel the doctor gave me samples of. Carrying the overstuffed diaper bag into the living room, I shove in his favorite blanket and zip it up.
“Colton,” her soft, sad voice says from behind me. I turn to look at her over my shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
“You’re not leaving my sight unless you’re with my brother. Do you hear me? Not until I know you’re safe.” My voice is gruff as the reality of the situation lies heavy on my chest. I care about her. Not just “hey, she’s a good friend, a nice neighbor,” no, I’m falling for her. Hell, I’m already half in love with her, and she’s in danger. Someone is coming for her, and I don’t know why. She won’t tell me why. It’s fucking eating me up inside.
“I think it’s best if I go,” she says as more tears flood her cheeks.