When Stars Fall [EBOOK and PAPERBACK PUBLISHED]

23. Wyatt - Present Day

I storm into the kitchen. I was on the brink of something with Ellie. But I can't ignore a call from Anna. Sometimes, I'm the only thing keeping her from fleeing completely and taking Jamal with her.

"Anna?"

"Sorry, Wyatt, it's me," Camila says.

"What's up?" Should I be relieved or more concerned?

"Anna's gone. Kyle called when she hadn't returned after a few hours. Her phone is here, obviously, so I'm not sure when or how she'll get in touch with you."

I groan and plant my back against the kitchen wall, sinking to the floor. "What else have you got going on? I'm only here for another day and a half. Then I'm back, and I can take him." She probably knows what's coming. This isn't the first time Anna has run off while I've been away. Camila flew with Jamal to Tokyo once. She wasn't so happy at the end of that flight. Jamal is not a traveler. Good thing I pay her well.

"Wyatt." There's warning in her voice.

"Camila, you know how important my time here is."

"And you know that you and your sister aren't my only clients. Yes, you pay me for my services, but other people do, too."

"Give me half an hour and I'll call you back." I hang up and dial Tanvi's number. She treats Jamal like a grandchild and might be willing to take him for a day or two.

"Wyatt?" Tanvi answers the phone, surprise in her voice.

"Hey, Tanvi, sorry to call out of the blue. Anna's done a runner." I wince. "Any chance you could take Jamal for a bit?"

There's a long pause. "This happens a lot." Her voice is gentle.

"I know." I close my eyes and take my stress ball out of my pocket to squeeze it.

"Maybe you should think about making more permanent arrangements?"

We've talked about this solution before. But I'm not going after custody of Anna's kid. She'd never forgive me.

"Can you take him for a couple days? I should be back in a day or two."

"Where are you this time?" Tanvi asks.

"Ellie." She'll understand. She called me after she watched Jackson's show, but I didn't tell her what I was doing then. No point in getting her hopes up.

"Ellie!" Her voice is delighted. "Finally. Finally." Tanvi laughs. "I'll go pick up Jamal. But if Anna comes to my house again looking for him..." She trails off.

"Don't let her in. Call Kyle. Hopefully, I'll be home by then."

Tanvi wishes me good luck with Ellie. I'm grinning when I hang up the phone, feeling lighter. I text Camila and Kyle the arrangements. I stand up, pushing my phone into my pocket as Ellie comes into the kitchen.

"Is everything okay?" Her brow is furrowed.

"Anna's run out on Jamal. I had to find someone to watch him for a couple days." I scan Ellie from her ponytail to her smooth, tan legs.

"Who took him?" She cocks her head to the side and runs her hand along the counter.

"Tanvi." I grimace. "I hope Anna doesn't go to her house this time before I get home."

Ellie frowns and crosses her arms over her chest. "Anna still gets violent?"

"It's gotten worse as she's gotten older. She's aggressive when she's been using. When Jamal isn't where she thinks he should be. If Kyle and I aren't around, she's not allowed in the main house until she dries out."