Total pages in book: 84
Estimated words: 81141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 81141 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 406(@200wpm)___ 325(@250wpm)___ 270(@300wpm)
Climbing into the car, I dig my phone out and call my parents, so they’ll know I’ve gone back to the hospital.
Chapter 13
MILA
It’s a struggle coming to, but when I open my eyes and focus on the white ceiling above me, I hear voices murmuring somewhere in the room.
“We can take turns staying with her,” Dad whispers. “That way, you won’t fall behind with your classes.”
“I can do my work here. My parents already cleared it with the dean, so my professors will email the assignments to me,” Jase grumbles.
Jase.
My eyes drift shut as calmness washes over me.
“We’ll be here at night so the three of you can get a break,” Mom says.
“We don’t have classes at the same time,” I hear Noah. “We need to at least attend some of the lectures, Jase. Between Jade, you, and me, we can cover the day shift. Uncle Logan, Aunt Mia, and Ryker can handle nights.”
Shifts. Days. Nights.
This is what my life has been reduced to?
Everyone I love has been severely affected by what happened.
The thought stirs the shadows to life, and flashes of the horrible night begin to bombard me. Helplessness settles hard in my stomach as I remember how Justin dragged me toward the dumpsters.
My heart begins to thump faster, and I shut my eyes tightly against the vile images, my hands curling into fists.
I feel the vicious blows, the angry bites.
It’s like I’m watching a broken horror movie, only seeing bright flashes of terror.
The urge to run overwhelms me, and I dart up into a sitting position. Pain sears through my chest from the sudden movement, tearing a cry from me. My breaths are shallow, each one feeling like a sharp stab to my lungs.
I’m tired, not just physically. I’m shattered to the bone. It feels like my soul weighs a ton, dragging me under the wave of emptiness that keeps crashing over me.
I feel a hand on my back, and the unexpected touch has my eyes flying open as my body instinctively flinches away. Realizing I just yanked away from Dad, a sob breaks through my feeble barrier, and I quickly cover my mouth with the back of my right hand. One tear slips from my left eye and rolls down to my neck. I gulp in breaths, fighting for control over the devastating feelings.
There’s a frantic panic bleeding into what’s left of my soul as my eyes dart around the room.
Dad. Mom. Jade. Noah. Ryker.
And then… Jase.
Desperately, my eyes latch onto his.
It’s because Jase is the one who stepped right into your hell to fight off the monster.
Lowering my hand to my lap, I say, “Can…” My voice is hoarse, and I first clear my throat before asking, “Can I have a moment alone with Jase?”
I just need a minute to ground myself. I don’t want my loved ones seeing me like this.
“Sure.” My eyes fly to Dad’s, and when he leans down to press a kiss to my forehead, I have to force myself to keep still.
I’ve lost the comfort of a simple touch.
My eyes blur from realizing I’ve lost so much more than I thought, but I fight back the tears, not wanting to upset my parents even more.
When everyone has left the room, leaving me alone with Jase, he sits down on the side of the bed and tilts his head to catch my eyes.
Meeting his golden gaze, I soak in the feeling of being safe before I say, “Thank you.” A puzzled look flashes over his strong features, and it has me explaining, “Thank you for helping me last night.”
Jase begins to reach for my hand but quickly stops and pulls back. It brings a frown to my forehead, and he’s so damn perceptive he instantly picks up on it. “You flinched earlier when your dad touched you.”
“I was just caught off guard,” I try to set his mind at ease. I lower my gaze to Jase’s hand, and seeing the broken skin over his knuckles, I lightly brush a finger near the bruises.
Slowly Jase turns his hand over, holding his palm up for me, and I don’t feel any hesitation as I rest my hand on his.
Not all simple touches are gone.
Because of Jase, I haven’t lost everything, and this time I’m unable to keep the tears from rolling down my cheeks as I lift my eyes to meet his. My voice is hoarse with emotion. “Thank you for stopping him.”
When Jase shifts closer to me, I lean forward, and the moment I smell his comforting scent and I get to bury my face in his neck, my world doesn’t feel so utterly devastated.
Jase wraps his arms around me, his touch still careful, and it has me whispering, “I’m okay with you hugging me.”
“Good,” he murmurs against my hair, and then he jokes, “’Cause you know me, I’m all about love.”