Page 87 of To the Chase

Chapter Thirty-two

Bea

Ididn’tusetheCome on Roverapp anymore—not since Tony had given me carte blanche access to their backyard. More often than not, the kids were already outside, waiting for Benjamin and me when we arrived.

Today, Tally and Scarlet were on the deck. I released Ben from his leash, and Tally darted down the stairs to chase after him, all gangly legs and enthusiasm, while Scarlet stayed put, offering me a small wave from her perch.

“Where’s Lace?” I called to her.

“She’s finishing a drawing.” Scarlet came to the top of the steps, hesitating before climbing down. “Hey, Bea?”

“Yes, darling?”

“Do you think…I mean, if you have time, do you think you could teach me how to do my hair like yours? I know mine is longer, but I was hoping there’s a way. I tried to follow a tutorial, but it didn’t turn out right—”

“Hey, you know”—I laid my hand on her arm—“that’s my favorite question? Hair is kind of one of my things. I’d love to. I’m busy tonight, but we could try tomorrow, or whenever you’re free.”

I surprised myself by how much I was looking forward to hanging out with a teenager. Part of me wondered if it was because she was close in age to Maddie and I was looking for a replacement for the sister I’d lost.

Maybe that was part of it, but Scarlet was interesting and bright in her own right. I liked her. And maybe, just maybe, she saw something in me she had been missing—an older woman she could talk to about things she couldn’t say to her grandpa or her uncle.

“Tomorrow,” she rushed out. “Do you have a date tonight?”

I nodded. “Yeah. There’s a guy.”

Her dark eyes lit with curiosity. “There is? What’s he like? Does he have cool hair too? He has to be cool if you like him, but what kind of cool?”

Before I could answer, my name was shrieked from the top of the steps, and Lacey appeared, waving a piece of paper.

“Don’t go yet! I made you a picture. Stay right there!”

I laughed at the panic in her little face. “I’m not going anywhere.”

She must not have believed me. She raced down the steps, her feet tangling midway. Lacey stumbled, and time slowed.

Her wide, terrified eyes locked on mine as I rushed forward. As long as I lived, I wouldn’t forget her sheer panic as she reached for something,anythingto save her.

I tried.

I tried so hard to get there, to catch her before she hit the ground. But I was moving through sludge, racing against gravity.

Two unbeatable foes.

She rolled head over heels to the bottom, landing in a crumpled heap. The screech she let out rendered my heart and the world in two.

Gravity finally released me, and I ran to her. She was so small—a pile of skinny limbs and wild hair, crying so hard, her entire frame trembled. But if she was crying, that meant she was awake. Conscious. That was important.

My first instinct was to lift her into my arms, but I thought better of it. Falling on my knees beside her, I brushed her hair from her face. Her head rolled toward me, rivers of tears coating her round cheeks.

“Oh, baby,” I whispered. “You’re okay. You’re going to be just fine.”

“Bea?” Her little voice wobbled. “My arm hurts.”

I couldn’t take my gaze off hers to check her over. My eyes refused to move.

“I’m so sorry, darling. We’ll fix you up in just a minute, okay? We’ll make it better.”

Things blurred as action swirled around us. Tony took over, getting Benjamin back into my house, helping me off the ground, and loading everyone into the car since Lacey refused to leave me behind. I sat in the back seat with her and Talon, holding both their hands and telling them it would be all right.