AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I had a panic attack.” The words spilled out.
“Oh, Lilster.” She rolled onto her side and wrapped her slender arms around me. “And you’ve been doing so well.”
I didn’t answer.
I should have. Because she eased back, looking at me with concern in her eyes. “You have been doing better, right?”
“I have.”
“But?”
“But I’ve been having… urges again.”
“Did you tell Mom?”
I shook my head.
“Your therapist?”
“I’ll call her if it gets out of hand, I promise.”
I’d ended formal therapy a little over a year ago, but I still checked in with her now and again.
“You should tell someone.”
“I am. I’m telling you.”
She poked her tongue out at me and just like that the heavy atmosphere melted away.
“Thank you for understanding.”
It wasn’t that I didn’t want help, but if Mom and Dad knew they would go into full protective mode and I couldn’t live like that again. It was too much. The constant questions and over-analysis of every decision and action. I got it, I did. But I was also a young woman now. I needed to handle this in my own way. Or else how the hell was I supposed to go off to college without falling apart?
No, I had to stand on my own two feet a little.
But it was a thin line between wanting to push myself outside my comfort zone and wanting to hide away in my bedroom and never step foot outside again.
“So back to Kaiden… did you two kiss?”
“Poppy!”
“Come on, you can tell me. I am an excellent keeper of secrets.”
“Nothing happened,” the lie rolled off my tongue. “I freaked out and he talked me down. He was very sweet.”
“Sweet? That’s not what I’ve heard of the infamous Kaiden Thatcher.”
“What have you heard?” I glanced over at her.
“I asked around. Apparently, he’s known to lose his temper on and off the field, if you know what I’m saying. There was a big fight last season… I heard Dad telling Mom he’s worried.”
My brows furrowed. That wasn’t the Kaiden I’d met last night, the Kaiden who had kissed me when he saw me losing control.
“I wonder what happened with Dad and Mr. Thatcher?” I mused, and guilt washed over Poppy’s face.
“Oh no, what did you do?” I asked.
“Promise me you won’t tell them?”
