Austin watched her disappear into the night with only the clothes on her back and his aunt Leah’s guitar. At least she had more than she did when he’d discovered her stealing his damn jacket. She’d insisted on walking alone to his house to pick up her cash and the little suitcase with the rest of her belongings.

By the time he got home, she’d be gone from his life.

Reeling, he stumbled back inside his parents’ house. Bryant was sitting on the steps to the upper story, just inside the back door. “You didn’t actually let her leave, did you?”

“What choice do I have? She wants to go.” Austin shrugged and tugged on his hair. “Besides, the family needs me.”

“She needs you more.” Bryant got up and smacked Austin on the back of the head.

“What the—?”

“That was for Jake. Don’t want the guy to have to come back from the dead to give you another lecture.” His cousin glared at him. “I’ll tell them where you went. They’ll understand. At least until she squares this shit up with that loser, you can’t leave her unprotected. Will you be able to forgive yourself if something happens to her?”

Torn, Austin stared toward the kitchen, then out into the gathering darkness. “No, of course not.”

“Then you better start running, dumbass,” Bryant told him.

Austin’s father emerged from the shadows then, Colby at his side. Silas said, “Listen to him, son. He is the smart one in the family. Go get your girl. Don’t let her do this alone.”

“But don’t make her feel like she couldn’t do it alone, if she really wanted to,” Colby added. “Deep down, no one wants to handle shit like this by themselves, but they need to know they could if they had to.”

His mom came from behind the men then and hugged Austin tight. “I like her. And I think you really like her. She could be the one for you. Don’t screw up now. Go.”

Austin couldn’t speak. He didn’t have to. He hugged his mom then dashed out the door, careful not to break the family’s cardinal rule and let it slam behind him. He sprinted down the dirt path toward his house, in the direction Hayden had taken off in.

He started to wonder if she’d veered off the trail when he caught a flash of her dress through the trees. “Hayden, wait!”

She didn’t stop for a second.

It took him a few minutes but he caught up before she could slip through his fingers and out of his life. “Hayden, listen. I’m not trying to fight your battles for you, okay?”

“You’re not?” She paused, causing him to nearly plow into her.

He put his hands out to catch her shoulders. “No. Just think this through. He’s hurt you before. Let me take you back. I’ll stay while you do what you have to do and then—once it’s safe—if you want me to leave, I will.”

“And you’re not going to pick a fight that would land you in trouble? Or even talk to him, for that matter? There’s nothing you could say that would make a difference to him.”

Oh, but Austin had a lot to get off his chest. He clenched his teeth and drew a breath through his nose. Eventually, he compromised. It was that or nothing. “Fine. I won’t interfere in any way as long as you don’t go alone. Moral support only. And maybe some road head on the way. Pinky swear.”

She didn’t respond, but her hand rubbed her side where her ribs still proved he wasn’t exaggerating about the danger she could be in.

“Bring me with you. With my uncle’s help, we’ll clear things up quickly, file for a restraining order, and you can move on with your life for good.”

“Okay.”

“He’s not going to lay another—” Austin paused. “Wait. Did you say okay? As in you’ll let me stay with you?”

“A little longer.”

“I’ll take it.” He wrapped her in his arms and stole a quick kiss, nothing like the one he wanted to give her. But it would do for now.

“I’m sorry to do this to you. The timing is shit. Are you sure?” She didn’t shove him away, so he stroked her hair, alarmed to feel her trembling beneath his caresses.

“I don’t mean to be crass, but Jake isn’t coming home. There’s no reason not to do what has to be done right away. Besides, he wouldn’t think much of me if I didn’t take care of you.”

“I can take care of myself. Mostly.”

Austin held his hands up, palms out. “I don’t doubt that. But it never hurts to have backup, right?”

She nodded. “Let’s go.”