At the party last night, Matt suggested we all get together at his house today for some soccer conditioning. I declined at first, knowing I was going to be elbows deep in planning for community college, but after a little begging and a few well-placed kisses from Cullen, I agreed to go. I got a little pushback when I said I’d be late though, because I wasn’t going to put off this application any longer.
My phonedings, but I don’t check the message right away. I’m sure it’s Cull telling me to hurry up.
The refrigerator is calling my name, so I make my way to the kitchen and decide to make a sandwich before I head out. I’m just getting the mayonnaise on my second slice of bread when my phonedingswith another incoming message.
“Chill, Cull,” I mumble into the quiet kitchen. I told them I’d be there around noon, and it only takes ten minutes to get to Matt’s from my house.
I pull my phone from my pocket to reply. Knowing Cull, he will be a pushy fucker until I answer.
That makes me smile.
UNKNOWN: This was for you. Everything I do is for you.
“Holy shit!”
I drop my phone like it’s on fire.
Shakily, I bend down to grab it, my eyes welling with tears.
Ella’s dead stare pierces through my phone screen, her skin still pink, except for the faint hue of blue around her mouth.
My chest caves in as I fall to my knees, the picture blurring through my stream of tears.
Ella did bad things, but she didn’t deserve this.
Idon’t deserve this.
A new kind of anger floods my veins, ready to burn this fuckers world to the ground.
I take a deep breath and do my counts, letting calm wash over me. Anger can fuel me, but it can’t dictate my actions.
I learned that from Cull.
His therapy is paying off at least.
I jump when my phone rings, Cullen’s ringtone slicing through the quiet in the kitchen.
My thumb hits theanswerbutton, my shaky exhale the first thing Cull hears.
“Hud? Baby? You okay?”
My eyes scrunch closed, the picture of Ella’s dead body seared into the back of my brain.
“No. I’m not. I got—” I swallow hard, the lump in my throat almost impossible to get down. “A text. A picture of Ella after he—afterhekilled her.”
Cull’s breath hitches, then a growl comes down the line. “Are you okay?”
Using the back of my hand, I swipe the tears off my cheeks. “I’m fucking pissed.”
“Good. I’ll take pissed over the alternative.” His exhale is uneven. “Are you on the way? I don’t want you alone right now.”
His concern pulls a small smile out of me. “Yeah, I just need to grab my stuff then, I’m on my way.”
“Oh, that’s why I called. We just left Matt’s house.”
“Okay, where am I meeting y’all?” Standing, I slump against the counter, needing physical support.
Cull is silent for a moment before he answers. “The river.”
