Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 67324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 67324 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 337(@200wpm)___ 269(@250wpm)___ 224(@300wpm)
Mykel slowly releases the hold on my mouth, and when his hand slips away, I make a soft, sobbing sound. “It’s okay,” he tells me, his voice the kindest he’s ever used with me. “It’s okay.”
“I’m afraid,” I whisper. “I’m afraid.”
“It’s goin’ to be okay.”
A few minutes tick by, and finally, the door opens and the light flicks on. Mykel lifts his body off mine. Alarick and Briella standing at the door. “They’re gone, but she’s gotta go back. If she doesn’t, they’ll return. I know you don’t want to, honey, but you have to.”
I nod, swallowing my tears.
I made a vow to do something. I will follow through with it.
“I’ll make you something to eat and get some water into you to help you feel better before you go back,” Briella says. “Okay?”
I nod again and look to Alarick. My mind is still spinning. My body feels weird, and everything feels crazy. “He kissed me.”
Everyone goes silent. Mykel tense behind me. His body is still close to mine.
“Dax?” Alarick clarifies.
I nod. “He kissed me, and he said I make him feel different. He told me about his life. I think he has feelings for me.”
“I fuckin’ told you.” Mykel growls. “You gotta pull her out of this, Alarick. It’s fuckin’ dangerous.”
“We’ll discuss that tomorrow when she’s sober. For now, we need to get her back so suspicion is not raised.”
Mykel helps me to my feet and I glance up at him. I don’t realize that I’m staring at him for so long until he clears his throat and I shake my head, awkwardly. “I’m sorry,” I say softly. “I . . . thank you.”
He nods, and then leaves the room.
He doesn’t like me, yet he just risked a lot for me.
He helped me when I needed it.
My heart aches as I watch him go.
I look to Alarick. “Why doesn’t he like me?”
Briella sighs and walks forward, placing her hands on my shoulders. “Let’s get you some food, yeah?”
Right.
Let’s do that.
Let’s avoid reality once more.
Let’s just eat a meal and pretend everything is okay when we all know it isn’t.
“DAX?” I CROAK, SITTING on the sideline of the trees when two people walking past again, flashlights in hand.
“Waverly?” he calls, and then the light flashes my way and he comes rushing over. “There you are. I couldn’t find you! What happened?”
My chest aches as I look up at him. “I don’t . . . you drugged me.”
He looks shocked. “What?”
“You drugged me. You said I could trust you and you drugged me . . .” My voice is frantic. Dax kneels down, and Yates stands behind him, holding the flashlight. “Honey, I didn’t drug you. Tell me what you remember?”
“Bobbie gave me a drink, and then, I don’t remember what happened. I just know I feel awful and sick, and I don’t know how I got out. It’s all a blur.”
Dax looks behind him to Yates. “Search her.”
Wait.
No.
“No, she didn’t do it,” I cry.
“Hey, it’s okay, it’s okay. Let’s get you home.”
He helps me to my feet and as we walk, I glance back at the cabin where Mykel just made me feel so damned safe. He looked out for me when nobody else wanted to. My heart thuds as we walk farther and farther away from it.
Maybe I’m not cut out for this.
Maybe, just maybe, I’m not strong enough after all.
Dax gets me back to the cabin and we walk inside. I can’t see anyone else, including Bobbie and Yates. Panic grips my chest and I worry that she’s going to get hurt. I stop walking and when Dax turns to face me, I decide to test if I truly do mean anything to him. I ask him, “Please don’t get Bobbie into trouble. I’ve been right where she is. You said you’re here to help her. Please don’t punish her for that.”
He studies me, and something in his gaze changes when he looks at me. “I won’t punish her.”
With that, he walks towards my room and I follow, my head throbbing with pain. I need to lie down, and I need to do it immediately. If I don’t, I’m likely going to pass out where I stand and that won’t be pretty. I’m also covered in dirt; Briella wanted me to shower but she knew if I did, that it would look odd, so I had to go back out in my dirty clothes.
She’s a great friend, and I’m super grateful to her for being there for me.
“I’ll get you a fresh towel. Would you like anything else?” Dax asks me.
I turn to face him, and I meet his eyes. “Yeah, I would like something else.”
My mind is spinning so bad I feel like I’m going to pass out, so I’m word vomiting far more than I should be, and I have no doubt that when I wake in the morning, I’m going to regret every single word that’s about to come out of my mouth.