“I can’t—” I sucked in a sharp breath, doing my best to keep the tears at bay. “I can’t do this right now. I need you to let me go.”
“Hadley.” My name on his lips was pained.
“Please,” I whispered.
He released me, and I ran for the door.
22
Hadley
I pulledthe blanket tighter around myself as I stared out my windows at the dark fields that led to forests. Stars were starting to peek out in the purpling sky. I loved this property. The house that sat on it. It was peaceful with plenty of space to roam. I never felt fenced in.
But maybe it was time to consider letting it go. Selling and moving somewhere far enough away where weekly family dinners weren’t a possibility. Beckett had opted for other continents altogether, but I would settle for another state. Maybe Montana or Colorado. I liked both of those places.
They weren’t home, though. I’d get to leave my problems with my mom behind, but I’d also be leaving everyone else. Dad, Shiloh, Hayes, Birdie, Sage…Calder. The thought alone had pain lancing my chest.
I didn’t think I could do it. Maybe that made me weak or co-dependent, but I didn’t want to let go of the world I’d built here. A few stray tears escaped my eyes, cascading down my cheeks. They pissed me the hell off. I didn’t want my mother to have this kind of power over me, but she did. With her disapproval and disdain. With the fact that I wouldn’t ever be good enough. It hurt more than I wanted to admit.
A knock sounded on my front door. I didn’t move. I didn’t want to see anyone right now.
My doorbell rang. I still stayed right in my spot, staring out at my wide-open spaces.
This time, there was pounding. “If you don’t open up, I’ll break a window and let myself in,” Calder yelled.
He would, too. I pushed to my feet, dropping my blanket onto the couch and starting for the door. The pounding picked up again. “I’m coming, don’t break your damn hand.”
I flipped the lock and pulled open the door. “Yes?”
Calder glowered at me. “Why didn’t you answer?”
“Maybe because I didn’t feel like company.”
He brushed past me and into the house.
“Sure, come right in,” I grumbled, shutting the door and locking it.
Calder moved in a flash, pulling me into his arms. “I’m sorry, Little Daredevil.”
My throat burned, but I swallowed it down. “It’s fine. I’m used to it.”
“It’s not fine.” He pulled me tighter against him. “She can’t help herself.”
“I know that. But what am I supposed to do? Just let her constantly beat me down? I can’t keep doing this.” I’d said the words time and again, each time hoping that a solution would appear. It never had.
Calder loosened his hold on me, brushing the hair away from my face. “Your dad’s having a pretty strong word with her right now. Hayes is backing him up.”
That was something. “She has to be open to hearing it, though.”
The wince on Calder’s face told me that he wasn’t sure she was. “They’ll keep trying.”
“Maybe one day it’ll work.” I glanced out the small window to the side of the door. “Where are Birdie and Sage?”
“Having a sleepover at the animal sanctuary with Everly and Hayes. They’re over the moon.”
My mouth curved a fraction. “Highlight of their week for sure.”
Calder’s hand came up to slide along my jaw, framing my face. “Hadley.”