AllFreeNovel
Share Us
We get out of the car, and Easton grabs my bags from the trunk. I follow behind as he carries them inside. Zayn is sitting on the couch, and the second he sees me, his eyes widen.
“Tessa?” He gets up. “Holy shit, are you okay? What happened?”
I shake my head. “I don’t really want to talk about it.”
“I told her she can borrow the guest room,” Easton tells him.
“Yeah, of course. It’s all yours.” Pausing for a second, he sighs. “Come here.”
Zayn pulls me into his arms and holds me tightly. I have to admit, I missed this guy. We were always closer than we let on. Sometimes, when neither of us could sleep after one of his parties, we’d go downstairs and use the rest of the alcohol to make experimental cocktails. It was my favorite part of the night.
“Do I need to go kick someone’s ass?”
A wet laugh leaves my mouth. “No.”
He rubs my back before letting me go. “All right. Well, let me know if you need anything. Easton will show you where the guest room is.”
“Thanks.”
I follow my ex up the stairs and down the hallway. He points to a couple doors, telling me which room is his and which is Zayn’s, and then he opens the one at the end. It’s a small room, but it’ll do. Especially since going home isn’t an option.
Once he puts my bags down, he turns to me. “I’m glad you called. I don’t know what happened, but I’m glad you still trust me enough to know I’m always going to be there for you.”
Not knowing what to say, I give him a sheepish grin.
“I’ll be downstairs if you need me.”
He closes the door behind him, and the dam breaks. Every pain I tried not to feel, every tear I tried not to shed, it all rips through me with an intensity that has me gasping for air. I lie on the bed and curl into a ball, just wishing that I was enough.
Enough for my dad.
Enough for Asher.
Just enough.
THE FEELING OF SOMEONE lightly shaking me forces me awake. My eyes burn as I peel them open and find Zayn sitting on the side of my bed. I groan, throwing my arm over my face. Not only did it take forever for me to fall asleep last night, but my nightmares have come back with a vengeance. Therefore, I didn’t get more than an hour of sleep last night.
“Time to wake up, Tess.”
“No.”
He chuckles. “You have to.”
“Why?”
“Because you have to get to school. Easton had class this morning, so I said I’d drive you in.”
I shake my head. “I’m not going.”
He pulls the arm away from my face and looks down at me. “Yes, you are.”
“No,” I repeat. “I’m not.”
“It’s not an option. You’re going.”
I roll my eyes and sit up. “Why? What the hell does it matter to you?”
He shrugs. “It doesn’t, but it does matter to you. Do you really want to have to repeat your senior year again? End up graduating with people who were sophomores when you were meant to get the hell out of there?”
