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Dawson nods once and turns back to Holden. “Maybe try coming back later. She doesn’t want to see you right now.”
I don’t hear his response, but judging by the way Dawson closes the door and locks it, Holden doesn’t argue. Before going back into his bedroom, Dawson asks if I’m alright. I nod sadly, and watch him saunter back to bed. As soon as he’s gone, I can faintly hear the sound of someone sniffling. Quietly, I tip toe over to the door and place my ear up against it –Holden’s sobs come from the other side.
Turning so my back is pressed against the door, I slide down until I’m sitting on the floor. My head lies against the cold wood and when I blink, a tear slides down my cheek. Separated by only a few inches of lumber, the two of us cry together until the exhaustion pulls me back into the darkness.
“SHOULD WE WAKE HER?” Skylar whispers.
Dawson walks toward me quietly. “I don’t know, but I can’t get out without moving her.” Peeling my eyes open, I find myself lying on the floor, blocking the exit. “Good morning, sleepyhead.”
I groan as a pain shoots down my neck. “Oh, ow.”
“Yeah.” Sky grimaces. “I can’t imagine a hardwood floor being comfortable.”
“Not so much.”
Standing up, I stumble over to the couch – holding my neck and trying to work out the newly formed kink. Skylar sits next to me while Dawson goes over to the freezer to retrieve an ice pack. Once wrapping it in a paper towel, he hands it to me. I thank him and place it between my neck and my shoulder.
“Ugh. This is just not my weekend.”
They both smile sympathetically. Dawson throws on his jacket and walks over to kiss Skylar goodbye. “I have to run. I told Sophia I’d cover her shift today.” He tells me. “Are you going to be okay?”
I nod sadly and he leans forward to kiss the top of my head before heading toward the door. As soon as he opens it, he jumps – finding Bree on the other side.
“Christ, Bree. You scared me half to death.” He pants, holding his chest.
“Sorry Daws.” She chuckles, before her eyes land on me. “Oh, there you are. Do you mind telling me why your boyfriend woke me up at the ass crack of dawn, banging on our door?”
Dawson cringes before excusing himself and leaving the apartment. Bree places her bag down and comes over to sit on the couch. I don’t even know where to begin, but Skylar apparently does.
“Did you punch him in the face? Please tell me you punched him in the face.”
I can’t help but laugh while Bree looks utterly confused. “No? Why would I do that? Wait, I thought you were with him this weekend.”
“I was.” I answer sadly. “I left early when I found out he lied to me about fucking some chick all summer.”
Bree’s jaw drops and she looks back and forth between Skylar and me. “Hold on. Rewind, start from the beginning, and tell me everything.”
The next couple of hours are spent going over all the events that happened over the last couple of days, and where I’m supposed to go from here. I’m so lucky to have them. They’re the perfect balance. Skylar is the devil on one shoulder, telling me I should kick him in the balls. Meanwhile, Bree’s the angel on the other – trying to reason why he did what he did.
Every couple of minutes, my phone vibrates on the coffee table. After the fifth time, we all stop looking to see who it is. By the sixteenth call in under an hour, I pick up my phone and watch as it vibrates in my hand.
“Are you going to answer?” Bree questions.
I shake my head and wait for it to stop ringing. Once it does, I go into Holden’s contact and hit the one button I never thought I would.
Block Number
Skylar frowns and reaches over to rub my arm. “Does that mean you’ve decided what you’re going to do?”
“No.” I sigh. “I just can’t think with him constantly calling and texting. I need space.”
Block Number Confirmed
LATER THAT NIGHT, I’M going over music choices with Dawson, Sky, and Bree when there is a knock at the door. The four of us go completely silent, knowing exactly who’s on the other side. Bree looks to Skylar and she nods – the two of them standing and walking over to the entrance. They share a look before Sky opens it. They both try to use their bodies to try to block his view, but they’re not nearly as tall as him.
“Can I please speak to Kayleigh?”
“No.” They answer in unison.
