Page 29 of Crossing The Line 5

I'm homeless. I have nowhere to go. I don't have any other friends I'm close enough with to ask for a place to crash.

I could get a hotel room, but that would eat into the money I've been saving. Money that I need for expenses. I have no clothes except for the stuff in my trunk. Thank God I have my laptop and gear. But nothing else.

I sit in my car and try not to cry.

I'm scrolling through hotel options on my phone when someone knocks on my window.

I jump, my heart racing, and look up.

Declan is standing outside my car.

Of course he is, because this day wasn't already complicated enough.

I roll down the window. "What are you doing here?"

"I heard about the fire. Are you okay?"

"How did you hear about the fire?"

"Keira told Crew. Crew told Ashton. Ashton told me." He looks past me at the building, at the smoke still visible against the darkening sky. "Do you have somewhere to stay?"

"I'm fine."

"Sutton."

"I said I'm fine."

He crouches down so he's eye-level with me. His face is still bruised from Saturday. He looks tired. Worn down.

"You were about to sleep in your car," he says quietly.

"Maybe."

"Come stay at the house."

"No."

"Sutton, you need help."

"I'm not staying at your house, Declan. That's the worst idea I've ever heard."

"Why? Because it would be awkward? Because we'd actually have to talk to each other?" He runs a hand through his hair. "Your building is on fire. You have nowhere to go. It's not complicated."

"Everything about this is complicated."

"Then let's keep it simple. Just for tonight. One night, and then you can figure out something else." He stands up. "Please. I'm not letting you sleep in your car."

I can’t. That’s walking back into the fire.

But what else am I going to do?