He Dropped Me at the Service Station to Take Her Home Chapter 06

He Dropped Me at the Service Station to Take Her Home Chapter 06

I never liked replaying that chaotic evening in my head after it happened.

Cas drove Izzy home, his face tight with frustration. Izzy knocked on my bedroom door, eyes glistening with tears.

“Ellie, did I mess something up again?”

Mom dragged me roughly out of my bedroom, jabbing her finger hard against my forehead over

and over.

“What is wrong with you? What did you do to upset Izzy?”

For the very first time, I met her impatient glare with a calm, steady stare.

“I didn’t do anything wrong at all.”

Izzy’s quiet sobs hitched in her throat. She stared at me, lost and confused.

“Then-why did you tell Cas you wanted to end things?”

Cas stood off to the side the entire time, brow furrowed, acting like I was throwing an unreasonable

tantrum.

“Ellie, you can’t carry on with fits like this. There’s a line you can’t cross.”

Mom’s face turned dark with rage. She grabbed a broom from the corner and lifted it high above her

head.

“Elowen, you’re going to explain every single thing right this second!”

The broom came swinging my way, but it slammed into the crystal chandelier mid-swing.

Shards of glass exploded across the room, sharp fragments raining down fast.

Everything slowed to a crawl. A burning slice of pain split open the top of my scalp.

Mom and Cas both shouted and dove forward at the same time.

Their hands shot out instinctively-Their hands flew out instinctively-all of them locking tight

around Izzy, who stood several feet away, completely unharmed.

I was left standing alone beneath the falling glass.

When I woke up, Mom sat beside my hospital bed.

Her usual stern, rigid face looked almost awkward, directed at me for once.

“The doctor said you’re fine, you’re lucky to be awake.”

Izzy cried and smiled all at once, clutching my hand.

“Ellie, you scared me half to death.”

Cas looked utterly worn out, heavy dark circles under his eyes, thick guilt written all over his

features.

“Ellie, you’re always quick on your feet. I figured you’d jump out of the way before it made

contact.”

“I’m so sorry, this will never happen again. You have to believe me.”

I didn’t feel like speaking. I had nothing left to say.

I simply closed my eyes, calm and empty inside.

I’d once believed I held some place special in his heart.

But whenever Izzy stood in the same room as me?

His first instinct would always, always be to protect her.

Cas visited the hospital every single day after that.

He brought a brand-new pothos plant and set it on my nightstand.

But every time he stepped into the room, I’d shut my eyes and pretend to be asleep.

He’d brush his fingers lightly over my bandaged scalp and whisper endless apologies.

“I’m sorry, Ellie. I’m so, so sorry.”

The day before I was scheduled to be discharged, Cas handed me a paper shopping bag with a bright

grin.

“I bought you a new dress to wear home tomorrow.”

I recognized the brand printed on the bag instantly, and I gave him my first genuine smile in days.

His face lit up with joy.

“Perfect, I’ll swing by to pick you up tomorrow, okay?”

“Wait for me.”

No. I wasn’t waiting for him at all.

First thing the next morning, I changed back into my own casual clothes, blocked every single one

of their phone numbers, and headed straight to the Amtrak station alone.

Northvale. My internship, a thousand miles away from Ashwick.