Page 43 of Saving His Heart

“What the hell was that, Till? Tilly?”

“He threw a vase at me. There’s glass everywhere.”

“Okay, just get out of the house. Where is Eli? Can you get to Ginny’s house without him seeing?”

“But, Ems, he just smashed Eli’s computer to pieces. We can’t afford to replace all this stuff. We need it for school, and you’re already working yourself to death.”

I haven’t told them about my job with Preston. I was too ashamed of the arrangement initially, so I told them I picked up an office temp position.

“Tilly, I don’t give a shit about the stuff. Leave everything.Now. I will find a way to replace the laptop again. Just go now. I’m on my way. Text me as soon as you get into Ginny’s house. Do not try to grab anything. Just get your ass out of that house now.”

The warm, cozy, relaxed feeling I had started to associate with Preston is gone. Once again, I pull down the mask and become Dr. Camden. Dr. Camden has her shit together. She is calm in an emergency. It’s a persona I curated at nine when I realized my sisters could only ever count on me. I’m spinning in circles, formulating a plan, when strong hands land on my shoulders, holding me in place.

“Slow down, sweetheart. What’s going on? What’s wrong with Tilly?” Preston asks, calmly at first. When I finally make eye contact, he absorbs my pain, my fear, and I see he is trying to control his anger.

“Huh? No, Preston. I can’t, I have to get to Camden Crossing. If I leave now, I should be able to get there before dark,” I tell him, begrudgingly shrugging from his grasp.

He looks at his watch, then back to me. The next thing I know, Preston has hold of my hand, my phone, and the little bag it came out of, and he is towing me toward the door.

“Preston, I just said I have to go.” I try to break free, but he won’t let go.

He turns so quickly I don’t have time to react. He has caged me into the wall, his voice low and steady when he asks, “Are you going to tell me what’s going on?”

“Just family stuff. I have to get to my sister. Please, Preston, leave it at that.”

“I can’t do that, Goldie. What I can do is get you to Camden Crossing within the hour. GG?” he bellows.

“There’s no need to be yellin’ young— Oh, dear. What’s going on?” GG asks after one look at me.

“Can you call Lexi and ask her to come up here, please? I want her to help Emory pack. We have a family emergency and will leave in twenty minutes. I just have to make some arrangements first.”

“Preston, it’s not possible to get to Camden Crossing in an hour. The fastest I’ve ever made it was three hours, and that was going 100mph on the highway,” I tell him, my irritation taking over.

“We’ll be going faster than that.”

“Lexi is on her way up,” GG says, holding up her phone. “That touchin’ with the ladies has really helped my speed with these messages. Now, come with me, Fixem. We’ll get started while Broken over there gets you all set up.”

Lexi walks through the door, and her face hardens immediately.

“What the fuck happened? Are you okay, Ems?” She runs to me, scowling at Preston.

As soon as Lexi reaches me, the dam breaks. My face is tear-stained in seconds, the stress of it all finally catching up to me.

* * *

Preston

I watch,helplessly, as Lexi comforts Ems and hate it isn’t me doing the comforting.

“Lexi? Can you help her pack an overnight bag? I need to make a call. We have to leave in twenty minutes,” I tell her.

“We?” Emory sobs. “Y-You can’t come with me,” she chokes out.

In three long strides, I am standing in front of her, trying to control a temper I rarely have. “Are you going to tell me what the hell is going on and what is wrong with Tilly?” I command.

“N-No,” she stammers.

“Then I’m going with you—end of discussion. We will leave for Boston from there if we have to.”