Chapter 29: Hollow
Declan
I watch my brother and Santana step into the bus with a hollow feeling in my stomach. Every part of me objects to the idea of letting them go. I have to stop myself from following them when the bus’s engine roars to life and begins its descent. Biting my lip, I pucker my mouth and tighten my fists around my cell phone. The look on Connor’s face as he walked away was nearly crippling, but it was worse to see Santana’s resigned yet disappointed expression. She hates me, and I don’t blame her. I’m a coward who let her shoulder the responsibility of caring for my brother without a fight, and the man who made love to her with no promises. And even though it was the right thing to do, it still stung to wake up alone in her bed.