Total pages in book: 136
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 137326 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 687(@200wpm)___ 549(@250wpm)___ 458(@300wpm)
“There’s nothing to fight for.”
“Pity. I would’ve loved to see you have someone you truly wanted.”
“Won’t be happening,” I whisper and swallow a huge bite of food, nearly choking.
It’s just…not happening.
I will never forgive him.
39
DAHLIA
The following morning, Kane disappeared.
This happened after I couldn’t sleep that night.
Tossing and turning, I kept thinking about what Vi said. It didn’t help that when she brought me a glass of milk before bed, she offered to follow me to Graystone Ridge if I chose to go back.
She said that while trembling.
While looking like she was on the verge of a panic attack.
But she still insisted on facing her demons and hoped it would inspire me to face mine.
My soft, entirely innocent, and a bit of a scaredy-cat sister has been more courageous than I ever will be.
She also forgave Kane. She always took him snacks and told him good morning. She talked to him even when I tried to pull her away.
Though I’m not sure whether or not she was doing that genuinely or forcing it for my sake. There are a lot of strange things about Vi lately, and the worst part is that she barely tells me anything.
Anyway, when I woke up today with a headache and deep apprehension, I still showered, styled my hair, and put on a white knitted dress I got from the local Target. I even put on red lipstick.
Kill me.
Talk about trying too hard.
But when I walk into the kitchen and glance out the window, there’s no one.
Not the flashy sports car that the neighborhood kids begged to take pictures with, and not Kane standing in front of it.
Just nothing.
My shoulders hunch as I tilt sideways to see if he’s parked along the street. Though he never has before.
He only leaves for a few hours to shower and change clothes in a local hotel, then he comes back, often with groceries.
He also only sleeps a few hours per night in the hotel and is always there when I wake up. And for some reason, it made me feel safe to know he was out there.
But now, he isn’t.
“He left early last night.” Vi slides a coffee cup in front of me.
I clear my throat. “I don’t care.”
“You sure about that? You look like you’re going to cry.”
I wipe my eyes with the back of my hand, just in case. “I’m fine.”
Even as I say the words, my rib cage closes around my heart, squeezing until I struggle to breathe.
Asshole.
Liar.
He said he’d wait for as long as it takes, but that’s apparently only two weeks.
Though he did miss his hockey games.
But they don’t have a game today.
“I’m sure he’ll come back.” Vi rounds the island and hugs me. “You look so pretty, it’s his loss if he doesn’t.”
I grab my phone and pause when I notice a few texts from Megan and him.
I open Kane’s text so fast, I’m surprised I don’t drop the phone.
Kane
Something urgent has come up. I have to go back. I’ll return tomorrow if I can.
I keep staring at the words with my fingers hovering over the keyboard.
For these past couple of weeks, he’s often texted me. Sometimes about groceries or what I want to eat. Other times, it’s to check on me.
His last text before this was ‘I miss you, wildflower.’ Which might have contributed to my sleepless night.
And because I planned on actually talking to him today, I type:
Me
Is everything okay?
I watch the screen for so long, I forget to blink. But there’s no reply. He doesn’t even read it.
I scroll back to Megan’s texts that she sent early this morning and freeze.
Megan
OMG OMG OMG!!! You won’t believe what happened last night!
Preston’s car was thrown off a cliff AND blew up. Kane and Jude were also there.
Girl!!! Where are u!!!
The phone clatters to the counter, and I pick it up with shaky fingers.
My face heats and a wave of panic chokes my throat, my breaths coming in low, choppy sounds.
A morbid feeling I’ve only felt when I heard about Vi’s attack explodes in my chest.
Fear.
All I keep thinking about is the last time I saw him. Yesterday morning.
When he smiled and waved.
And I glared at him, then ignored him.
I even ignored him for the rest of the day, staying cooped up in my room and reading a boring medical book because I couldn’t stop thinking.
Because I was too caught up in my head to face him.
And now this?
I know I’m unlucky, but not to this extent. It just can’t be.
I don’t know how I type the text to Megan.
Me
Are they okay?
OMG FINALLY. Idk though. I know for sure that the trio were together before (or was it after?) the car was thrown off the cliff and blew up. The entire team is freaking the fuck out, as you’d expect, because they have no further info, and Ryder isn’t answering my calls.