Page 21 of Fractured Hearts

“Cal has his.” I watch his frown deepen and decide just to explain instead of watching him try to figure me out. I’m too tired and in too much pain to enjoy his confusion. “We can call him and let him know we’re fine. I’m sure Belle will figure out a way to contact him, too.”

“Good idea,” he says, pulling up Cal’s contact information and hitting the FaceTime button. “Might want to close your mouth, Bambi.” I slam it closed. The shock from his compliment morphs into annoyance at breakneck speed.

“Ezra!” Cal answers. His hair is sticking up everywhere like he’s been running his hands through it. “Jo!” he says the moment he spots me. “Where is everyone else? I haven’t been able to get in touch with anyone!”

“Maverick made Ezra grab me and run. He thinks their phones are probably discarded somewhere to be safe,” I explain.

“Jo!” Harlow’s bright red hair is the first thing I see before she shoves her way into the frame. “I’m so glad you’re okay!”

“Auntie Jo Jo!” I tear up at Cora’s little voice. Harlow picks her up, and all three of them are squished into the small frame of Cal’s phone. I miss my best friend and her little family so much it makes my chest hurt.

“Hi my Cora girl,” I say. “I miss you.”

“Is Auntie Belle there? Daddy says she’s trying to kill him again.”

I snort when Cal looks down at his daughter like she betrayed him. Cora is almost four and at that stage where she loves to tattle on her parents.

“Auntie Jo Jo, guess what?” Cora says. She’s also in the stage where she’s chatty at all times.

“What?” I ask, playing along like this is one of our normal calls.

“Mommy has a baby brother in her belly!”

My eyes dart to Harlow’s, which are comically wide. Cora definitely wasn’t supposed to spill the beans on that. Cal looks smug as hell as he kisses her temple and ruffles Cora’s red curls.

“Really?” I ask, the tears I was holding spilling over. I’m so damn happy for my best friend.

“Really,” Harlow says softly. “You ready to be an Auntie again?”

“Hell yes!” I say.

“You have to put a dollar in the swear jar, Auntie Jo Jo!”

I laugh, enjoying this small slice of normalcy. Ezra clears his throat.

“Congratulations,” he says. Cal meets his eyes and smiles.

“Thanks, man.”

Ezra nods. “This number is secure. You guys can call it whenever you need.”

“I’ll call you the minute Belle gets in touch,” Harlow says. She knows just as well as I do that Belle will figure out a way to let Cal know she’s okay. Even if she has to send a messenger pigeon.

The minute the call ends, I sink into the couch. Whatever energy reserves I found have quickly depleted and exhaustion has fully taken over. My heavy eyelids close, and I can’t get them to open even when I feel myself being lifted into Ezra’s arms or when he carefully places me on a soft bed. The last thing I remember is the sound of his sigh before sleep pulls me under.

twenty

EZRA

Having to spend the morning in silence while the angry blonde who stole my boyfriend glares at me was not on my bingo card for this year. Every time I try being nice to her, I remember the look on Maverick’s face while he begged me to get her out of that house, and I’m angry all over again. I’m adult enough to be aware that it’s unfair to her, but she isn’t exactly trying to get along with me either. The little voice of reason in my head says that her attitude is probably a result of my shitty one, but I just tell that voice to fuck off and continue to make breakfast.

“I’m going to go into town to grab supplies. Make me a list and add your clothing sizes,” I say. Sliding a plate in front of her with two Pop-Tarts on it. She frowns at the plate and then looks up at me, her frown deepening. “What? I stocked this place with things that would take a while to go bad. It was either Pop-Tarts or baked beans.”

“I want to go into town and pick my own clothes.”

“You can’t even walk, Jo.” She glares at me but doesn’t argue. She can’t. I found her scooting down the stairs on her butt this morning.

Jo grumbles something under her breath, but snags the pad of paper and the pen I pull out of the drawer and starts writing a list. From what Declan has told me, Jo is always busy. She’s going to have a really hard time while we’re stuck here.