Chapter22

#Chapter22

I have nowhere to go. Now that I'm no longer safe at work—or my old work now—my Aunts house is the only refuge I have. Lauren and Austin and Kaden, they could be anywhere, and now Brandon is on the list too. People I have to avoid. Especially Kaden now that Lauren told me of his plans to get me back. God, why can't he learn? What he did—I can't understand why he wants me back or why he thinks I still have feelings for him. Not after that.

It would be so easy to give into him—Brandon. Maybe it's worth the moment of satisfaction. Maybe my aching heart is just my payment for passion and sex and company.

My phone vibrates against the floorboards. I get up to retrieve it, mindlessly answering. /"Hello?/"

/"Hey, it's me./" Lauren. /"You never answer texts./"

/"Oh, sorry, I've been busy today./" Busy being teased by Brandon. /"Uh, what's up?/" It feels unnatural to say such things.