Chapter 42
Beams of sunlight broke into my bedroom, waking me up. Yesterday was a long day, and I wasn’t in a rush to leave bed this morning. Moving to my back, I reached over to find Ali, but I touched cold sheets.
My eyes flashed open to see the empty bedding beside me.
“Ali?” I called out, but there was no answer.
Rubbing the sleep out of my eyes, I searched her side of the room. Her phone was taken from the charger on the nightstand. Her jacket was no longer hanging beside mine on the back of the door.
I got up in a flash, almost stumbling over from the blood rush. Scrambling out to the kitchen, I pulled the shades up to see my dad’s truck alone in the driveway.
I could practically feel the blood drain from my face as her words from last night crashed into me: I think I should talk to him.
She had a resigned look on her face when she said it.
Like she knew it’d come down to this and she was ready for it.
I never should’ve told her that Rossi requested a meeting.
The memory of her tear-streaked face the night she called me for help slammed into my brain, making my heart rate spike. I vowed to her that night that I’d never let Mark near her ever again.
I wouldn’t fail her. I couldn’t fail her.
“Dad!” I yelled as I ran back to my room to throw some clothes on. “Dad!” I tried again.
“What? What’s wrong?” he called out in a groggy voice. He had a long night at Herb’s and most likely wouldn't be opening up the shop until noon.
“I’m taking your truck, okay?” I yelled down the hallway.
I didn’t even wait for him to respond. I stole the keys from the kitchen table and ran outside.
Throwing his truck in reverse, I gunned it down the gravel driveway. As soon as I hit the main road heading to the rink, I shrugged off my sling, grunting from the pain. I knew I shouldn’t be taking it off so early in the day, but I couldn't let anything hinder me.