Page 42 of The Heart Breaker

The second I sit, my whole body sags forward like it finally remembers I got maybe an hour of sleep. If that. I shake it off, drag on a pair of boxers, then reach for my jeans, but before I can get them over my hips, my phone starts buzzing inside my stall.

I lean back to grab it, yanking my jeans up one-handed as I check the screen.

The second I see the name, my stomach drops.

“Shit,” I mutter under my breath.

I quickly button my jeans and push past Logan so fast my shoulder clips his on the way by.

“What the hell?—?”

I don’t answer. I just keep moving, my eyes fixed on the screen, already hitting accept as I step out the door and press the phone to my ear. She never calls. Not unless something’s wrong.

“Cole?” Her voice comes through small and thin, on the edge of tears.

Every muscle in me locks. I brace my forearm against the wall and lower my head. “What’s wrong, Soph?”

She sniffles once, and the sound lands hard, straight in my ribs. “I—I’m sorry. I know you’re probably busy, I just… I didn’t know what else to do.”

My grip tightens around the phone until my knuckles burn. “Tell me what happened.”

She lets out a shaky breath. “It’s Dad,” she says quietly. “He… um. He took the money again.”

My jaw locks so hard it aches.

“I went to get the envelope so I could go to the store and it was just… gone.” Her voice is shaking and it kills me. “I checked everywhere, Cole. I’m sorry. I know you worked for that and?—”

“Soph, stop.” I drag my hand down my face. “Don’t apologize for his shit. You hear me?”

She goes quiet. All I can hear is her shaky breathing and the TV in the background.

“I can go to Maddie’s tonight,” she says after a second. “Her mom said it’s okay if I stay a few days.”

“Yeah,” I say immediately, rubbing my chin. “Do that. Pack a bag and get the hell out before he gets home.”

“I’m sorry. I know you’ve got school and hockey. I didn’t want to bother you but?—”

“You never bother me.” My throat burns saying it, because I hate that she even thinks she could. “You can always count on me, Soph.”

She lets out another shaky breath, which makes me want to punch something.

“I’ll send more money tomorrow,” I tell her. I’ll figure out a way to pay rent somehow. “Just make sure you eat tonight. Order something if Maddie’s mom doesn’t cook. Use my card. Don’t start skipping meals to save money. That’s not your job.”

The first time I found out she was doing that, I lost my shit. Here I was, worried about classes, while my little sister was starving so she could make the money last longer.

A tiny exhale leaves her. “Okay.”

I exhale too, leaning back against the wall and dragging a hand through my hair. “Text me when you get there. I want to know you’re safe.”

“I will. Thanks, Cole.”

“There’s nothing to thank me for.” I swallow against the tightness in my throat. “Love you, Soph.”

She’s silent for a few seconds before she whispers, “Love you too,” and hangs up.

I lower the phone slowly, my grip tightening.

This isn’t new.