Slide(Boosted Hearts Book 3)(20)

Her eyes stung like hell, but she choked back the tears. “I appreciate everything you and Joe have done for me, the sacrifices you made for the family, but this is my life, Hugh. I have to do what’s right for me.” She grabbed a bag and started throwing clothes in. “I’ll pay you back, okay? Every goddamn cent.”

“Yeah? And how’re you gonna do that?”

She couldn’t look at him again, afraid she’d break and spill all her secrets. That wouldn’t solve anything. Would only make things a whole lot worse. “I’ll find a way…I…”

“When are you going to grow up, Lucy?”

That verbal blow had enough power to knock her on her ass. It took all her strength not to curl into a ball on the floor and never get up.

He paused for several seconds. “Look, I know I’ve already asked you this, but I’m going to ask you again. You said that fucker Daniel transferred to another school, but he’s still in San Francisco, right? Is that it, is it him? Is that what this is really about?”

She spun to face him. “No!” she said with too much force. But, God, she needed him to stop bring Daniel up. It was getting harder and harder to lie to him.

Hugh went from sympathetic to pissed in an instant. “Fine, then you need to stop with this fucking around. This shit is getting old.”

“And I’m done answering to you. You’ve made your feelings more than clear, but this is my damn life and I want you to keep the hell out of it.”

“That right? You want me out of your life?” He grunted. “Look who can’t handle a few home truths, huh, Luce?”

“Are you finished? I have places to go and tequila to drink.” Dumb. So dumb, poking the bear. But she was done. So damn done.

Hugh shifted his big frame, jaw like granite. “If that’s how you feel, you keep packing your shit. I’m not paying for you to fuck around anymore.”

“Awesome.” She carried on stuffing clothes in her bag, shoving in her favorite jeans. That’s when her knuckles brushed her little book in the bottom, the book she’d read until the spine was worn. She’d found it at thrift a shop when she was a kid. It had started her love of poetry. Just holding it made her feel safe, reminded her of a time when she could count on her brothers, especially Hugh, to be there for her.

Her heart started to ache. God, she needed that from him now.

The door opened and slammed behind Hugh, and she heard the sound of his heavy footfalls on the steps as he walked away. His truck started in the parking lot and he tore off a second later.

Lucy slumped down on the bed, covering her face with her hands as tears started to fall. Everything was such a damn mess. She didn’t know where she was going to go, but she needed to get away, needed space to breathe. Right now Hugh would be on the phone to Joe and it would only be a matter of time before he arrived to pick up where their older brother had left off. The pair pissed each other off at times, but they happily stuck together when it came to her, their irresponsible, out-of-control little sister.

Her sadness twisted into anger, and the urge to prove them right was a constant niggling tingle between her shoulder blades.

The fact she hadn’t been that girl in quite a while was irrelevant.

She’d lost herself when she’d been in her relationship with Daniel. She’d believed his lies, had fallen for his flattery. He’d used his position of power to get close to her, and she hadn’t seen it, not until it was too late, until she was in too deep. She’d been foolish, and had trusted him when she shouldn’t have.

She’d become someone else, someone she didn’t recognize. Someone she didn’t like very much. And honestly, she didn’t know who she was anymore, or what she wanted. Everything was so mixed up.

She didn’t know how long she sat on that bed—maybe an hour, longer than she’d intended to—trying to plan her next move, to clear her thoughts. All she knew for sure was she had to leave. Had to get the hell away. Now. She slung her bag over her shoulder and headed down the stairs, but came up short when she hit the bottom. The main door was partway rolled up. She thought everyone was gone after they’d closed up for the night. God, was Joe already there?

She heard Adam’s voice a second before the side door opened and he strode out onto the parking lot. She ducked back, pressing against the wall so he didn’t see her. He was on his phone, deep in conversation.

“I’m leaving tonight, taking a few vacation days. I should have her back to you in about four days, if all goes to plan.” He paused. “Yeah, I’ll be there in time for the show. You’re covered.”