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“You can’t tell Tristan where we’re going, Erin. He could tell someone else, and it might get back to Graham. As soon as he figures out I’m gone, he’ll start interrogating everyone at the hotel for information.”

“I know that. I won’t tell him where we’re going. I’ll just say we’re moving back to Roscommon, okay?”

Her head bobbed, but I could see she was still a nervous wreck. I helped her pack some of her things before I had to go to work. On my way there, I received a text from Tristan.

Is everything okay with your sister?

My stomach lurched just seeing his words, knowing I had to say goodbye to him later today. I quickly typed a response.

She’s upset, but she’ll be okay. I’m on my way to work, but I’ll tell you everything later. Meet me after my shift at five?

His reply popped up within seconds.

I’ll be there. x

The café was busy, but I was glad for it because it kept my mind off everything, most notably the conversation I had to have with Tristan later. It felt heartless to accept what he’d done for me over the last few weeks and just leave out of the blue. But this was Sloane’s and my future. It was also for our safety. Graham was a scary person, but he also knew other criminal types who he could use to intimidate us.

When there was a lull mid-morning, I stepped into Christine’s office and asked if she had a moment. She was Tara’s grandmother, and I could see the family resemblance. They had the same light blue eyes, but where Tara’s were always rimmed in smoky black eyeliner, Christine’s were lined with age, a warmth in their depths.

She was patient and understanding when I explained to her that today would be my last shift and that I was so sorry, but I couldn’t work any notice. She even reassured me that they’d manage until they found a replacement. How nice she was being made me feel even worse.

It was about an hour before the end of my shift when a group of girls I recognised from school came into the café. Natalie was amongst them, and I got that prickly sense on the back of my neck when one of them spotted me, her eyes lighting up in a wicked way that put me on edge. She whispered something to Natalie, whose face crinkled as she shook her head. I could lip read well enough to see her say something like, “No, please don’t,” as she yanked on the other girl’s sleeve.

I’d been wiping some smudges off the cake display cabinet when I rounded the counter to take their orders. “Hello, what can I get for you?”

Natalie’s friend leaned in, her expression full of intrigue when she asked, “Is it true?”

I frowned. “Is what true?”

“That you’re homeless and have been squatting at the hotel.” Her eyes were full of glee, and my entire body froze as dread sank in. I didn’t even know this girl, and here she was trying to humiliate me. I couldn’t think of what I might’ve done to make her hate me so much. The only reason I could imagine was that she was Natalie’s friend, and Natalie liked Tristan, who had been spending a lot of time with me.

It didn’t make sense that they could even know about this. I mean, Tristan and I had only been caught out this morning. We hadn’t been to school yet, so there was no time for rumours to spread.

Had Tristan told her about my situation? No, that couldn’t be right. He’d promised me he wouldn’t tell anyone, but maybe he didn’t think it was that serious. Not everyone understood the shame of being without a stable home. I didn’t think he’d told Natalie, but Tristan and his brother were very close. Perhaps he’d confided in him, and his brother had told someone else. It didn’t take long for those types of things to spread.

“If you’d like to order something, you can do so now. Otherwise, there are other customers waiting.” I did my best to swallow down my tears. It was bad enough being caught out this morning by Tristan’s dad. This was just humiliation on top of embarrassment on top of shame. I felt like tearing out of my own skin just to escape it. It seemed like everyone in the café was staring at me.

The girl shot the others a smug look, and Natalie at least appeared apologetic. It didn’t matter, the damage was done. If I wasn’t already leaving town then I’d have to now. I certainly couldn’t go back to school on Monday with everyone talking about me like I was some vagrant charity case.

“The fact that you avoided the question is answer enough. I don’t know what Tristan Balfe sees in you,” she sneered, and Natalie said, “Cathy, don’t be cruel.”

I could feel a panic attack building, like I might burst if I didn’t get away. Stepping back, I turned to my co-worker, Adam. “Can you take their orders? I’m feeling unwell.”

“Sure,” he said, frowning in confusion as I scurried through the staff door. Christine was still in her office when I knocked.

“Come in.”

I opened the door and poked my head in. “Hi, um, sorry to bother you again, but would it be possible to leave early? I feel a migraine coming on.”

“Of course. The others can cover for you. You go, and the best of luck with everything.”

“Thank you, Christine.”

I grabbed my things and ducked out of there as fast as I could, avoiding making eye contact with anyone as I fled. My heart was in my throat the entire walk to the hotel. I was supposed to be meeting with Tristan, but I was so mad at him I could hardly think straight. I knew he probably didn’t mean any harm by it, but he’d obviously let slip to someone about what was going on when he’d promised me he wouldn’t. I mean, how else would they have found out?

Maybe this was better. A clean break. With Graham in the mix, I couldn’t tell him where I was going anyway, and if I said goodbye in person, I’d probably break and give him some details. He’d look at me with his devastatingly handsome brown eyes, all sorry and begging forgiveness, and I’d crack. I’d tell him something that could lead Graham right to us.

I went to the back entrance of the hotel, but to my dismay I found it locked. Well, the security guy obviously did a sweep and made sure there was no way for undesirables like me to sneak in anymore. I needed my things. They were still up in the attic and everything I owned in the world was in those bags.