Chapter 30 #2
“What are you doing?” I question, sitting straighter as he continues to press on his screen multiple times, concentrating as he does.
“Booking you a hotel for a week not far from here. After that, we’ll figure it out.”
“You’re still banking on me moving in with you, aren’t you?” I giggle, placing my head back against his shoulder.
“I’m not the kind of man who gives up that easily. You should know that by now.”
“Your tenacity is one of the things I love about you.”
His body grows instantly rigid, and he stares at me. Like he’s about to bolt.
Crap.
Why did I say that? He’ll think I meant love, love.
The man didn’t even know what missing someone felt like, and you’re using the L word? Are you insane?
By the time I’m through yelling at myself, my pulse is so loud I feel nauseous.
“I…uh…” I try to explain. “I didn’t mean love as in…in love. I meant, you know, the other way, like I like that about you.” I laugh nervously. “Not that I couldn’t love you, because I could, but we barely know each other, and you know…” I think I finally take a breath.
My face heats up while he just stares at me. Seconds pass, and he hasn’t said a word.
Okay, this is bad.
“You should see your face right now.” He bursts into a fit of laughter, and I almost collapse from relief. “I knew what you meant, Kayla. I’m not an idiot. I know you’re not in love with me.” Some emotion briefly flickers past his gaze.
Why did he just sound so sad when he said those last few words?
But I don’t question it. Instead, I play it off.
“Geez! Maybe don’t get all serious when I throw that word around.” My heart races so quickly, I try hard to mellow it. “I swear I thought you were gonna race out of here and never see me again.”
A crease forms between his brows. He cups my face in both hands and gazes deep into my eyes.
“Is that what you think of me? That I’d just leave you?
I’d never do that Kayla. Never.” He pins his forehead to mine.
“You don’t understand what you mean to me.
You can’t,” he whispers. “And that’s okay.
Because I’m glad you don’t. But you? You’re my whole world now.
If you’re gone, so am I.” He kisses my temple before he steals my heart away with another searing look.
“I don’t know what happens between us tomorrow or a year from now, but I’d never willingly leave you.
I’m gonna be in your life until my last breath. Whether you want me there or not.”
Affection swells in my chest. “That’s so romantic.”
“Also, I should probably tell you I got us a penthouse suite.”
“Us?”
“That’s right.” He winks. “I’ll be staying with you. No way in hell would I let you stay in a hotel all by yourself.”
The back of my nose stings. Because I never truly knew what happiness felt like until this very moment.
The following day, I’m with Elsie and Jade out to grab lunch.
They have been worried about me since I left on my very peaceful lakeside trip.
I’ve managed to calm them. I know they worry I could spiral, especially since I’ve missed the last few appointments with Doctor Collins.
But after that incident at my party, then the attack, I haven’t felt comfortable enough to return.
I will have to face him later today and tell him I decided to switch to a new therapist.
I was going to tell Jade my concerns, but what do I have to go on?
My gut feeling? What do I even say? “He was being kinda weird, and I don’t know, something felt off.
” Wouldn’t be right to get him fired over something that is probably nothing.
Jade did say she invited him to my party, so it’s not like he was there at random.
I will have to figure out what to tell them once I move to the hotel, though.
They’re gonna find out from Terrence. I’ll need a reason why I’m moving.
Maybe I can say someone broke in? But what if Terrence gets fired because of that?
Michael will blame him for not doing his job.
I have to think of something believable.
“You haven’t touched your burger.” Elsie looks at me, picking up hers, and takes a bite. “It’s so damn good. The bacon is cooked perfectly on mine.”
Jade picks at her salad, stuffing a piece of grilled chicken into her mouth. “Tell us more about that lake house. How was it? It was so out of the blue.”
“It was relaxing.” My mouth thins. “I needed that.”
“Well, we’re happy that you took time for yourself,” Jade says.
I nod, forcing myself to eat. I haven’t had much of an appetite since I left Adriel’s. Everywhere I turn, I wonder if the killer is there in the shadows, watching me. Wonder if they’ll find me and end what they started. Adriel wasn’t able to get to me then. What if he’ll be too late again?
“There’s something I wanted to tell you guys.” I take the glass of water to my mouth and pull a few sips.
“What is it?” Jade places a palm to the top of my hand.
“I’m gonna be staying at a hotel for a bit. I—”
“What?” Elsie straightens her spine. “Did something happen?”
“I don’t know. With everything going on, I don’t feel safe at my place. I’m alone there. I think it would be better to be with a lot of people around.”
“So why don’t you stay with us?” Elsie’s brows furrow with concern. “Why would you go somewhere else? We have plenty of space.”
“That’s sweet of you guys, truly,” I tell her. “But you have done enough for me. I need to do this on my own. I can’t depend on everyone else. I have to learn how to handle things on my own.”
Elsie twists her mouth in disapproval, but doesn’t say anything.
Jade squeezes my fingers before she returns her hand to the table. “I think she’s right, Elsie. This is good for her. She knows what she needs.”
“Fine. But I’m not happy about it.” She pouts before she grins at me. “It would’ve been fun to have you around again.”
“I can always come over for a slumber party.”
I was only half-joking, but Elsie’s face lights up.
“Like the kind we used to have in high school? My God, those were fun, weren’t they?” Her eyes build with moisture.
“Yeah…” Jade’s gaze turns distant. “We had the best times together.”
“Things are so different now,” I say. “So much has changed.”
“Maybe some things shouldn’t.” Elsie’s attention bounces between the two of us, grabbing both our hands from across the table. “Some things are worth holding on to.”
“We’re lucky, you know.” Jade glances at Elsie, then at me. “For all the things they broke, they never broke this.” She lifts our hands off the table a fraction. “This will never change.”
But it could.
If they find out what I’ve become, they may never want me in their lives again.
And that will only kill me.