Page 35 of Wrecked By You

McCrae moved to the front of the house and shone his big flashlight around one more time. There was no one. He said something into the radio, using codes that I didn’t understand. Then he turned to me. “You know that Damon is not going to want you to be alone.”

Damon. “Oh my gosh. I should call him.”

McCrae nodded, and we moved back into the house. “I would call him right now. Let’s decide that you’re going to stay at my parents.”

I didn’t really love the fact that he thought Damon was in charge of me, but I pressed Damon’s number.

“Hey,” he said when he picked up.

“Hey. I have McCrae here. I heard some noises in the room and gravel crunching, and I thought that someone was in the house.” I knew I wasn’t saying it right.

“What? Are you okay?”

“I’m okay. But your brother wants me to go stay at your parents’, and I’m not going to do that. But he won’t leave until I called you.”

“McCrae, are you there?”

“Here,” McCrae said with a stoic look on his face. “I couldn’t find anything, but I’m pushing for her to come stay at Mom and Dad’s.”

I shook my head. “I’m not doing that.” It felt like the more determined I was to stay here, the calmer I felt.

Damon coughed. “I think it would be a good idea to stay at my mom and dad’s.”

I shook my head again and sucked in a long breath. “Listen, whoever it was is gone. I’m not going to your parents’ house.” Even though I loved his parents, I hadn’t even been in town that long. I wasn’t comfortable with it.

“Isla, just go with McCrae.”

I really didn’t like his tone. It reminded me too much of Kyle. “Damon, I’ll talk to you in a little bit. I’m going to say goodbye to McCrae.” I hung up before he could argue.

McCrae let out a loud laugh and then shook his head. “Big brother is not going to be happy about that.” He moved toward the door but stopped. “You sure? I could just park outside for a while.”

I sighed. “Maybe stay outside for a little bit. But I’m not going to your parents’. Thank you.”

McCrae moved out the door and nodded. “You can call me too, if you don’t want to call the station. Let me give you my number.”

I was reluctant to do that, but I was also grateful. “Okay.” I took McCrae’s number and then said goodbye.

It wasn’t two minutes later that Damon was calling. I answered the phone. “I’m sorry. I’m just not going to your parents’ house.”

“I’m worried. Tell me everything that happened. I’m staying on the phone with you all night.”

His kindness was what made me feel that fear again. “You don’t have to do this.”

“It’s either we stay on the phone all night or I’m driving home.”

I moved into the hallway and flicked on the light to make sure everything was locked. “Fine. Let me get ready for bed, and then I’ll call you back.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

I got off the phone and grabbed some water, telling myself to calm down. I readied myself for bed in the bathroom, and then I went into the bedroom and changed into a long dress shirt I’d been using as pajamas. I said my prayers, slipped into bed, and called him back.

He answered on the first ring. “What took you so long?”

I couldn’t help but smile. “I was just saying my prayers and getting ready.”

“Do you pray?”