AllFreeNovel
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“She’s back?”
“Yeah, dude. Got back from the library about twenty minutes ago.”
“Then why didn’t you say something?”
“Because you’re sitting on the couch like all the other nights. Moping. Go talk to her.”
With that, Barbi departs. She’ll be out all night. The woman is insatiable. She’s just like Alec in that regard. Don’t see why things didn’t work out between them. They’re a match made in heaven.
As for me, I’ll stay up late into the night, patrolling the exterior and interior of the townhouse, while driving myself insane with the thought of getting Kaye alone and fixing this friend zone thing.
Maybe I should take Barbi’s advice?
Fuck it.
I force myself to get off the couch and wander down the hall leading to Kaye and Barbi’s room. At the door, I knock gently.
“Who is it?” Kaye sounds off, like she’s been crying.
“Is everything okay?” I ask cautiously and slowly push open the door.
When I see her, she tenses and looks away. Shoulders hunched, she looks sad, and did she just wipe a tear from her face?
“Kaye? Are you okay?” I cautiously walk into her room.
My heart clenches and I want nothing more than to wrap her in a big hug and make her feel safe, but that’s not what she needs right now.
“I’m fine.” When she looks at me, her gaze is distant, her expression defeated. A heavy sigh leaves her lips and she mumbles something so softly I can’t hear what she says.
“You don’t look fine.” My natural instinct is to comfort her, but there’s an odd distance between us.
Things have definitely cooled off from that initial flash of heat when we met.
“I am.” She turns away from me, giving me her back. “I’m perfectly fine.” Her tone is resolute, yet broken at the same time; an empty shell of her normal vibrant self.
Discolorations around her wrists, and again at her neck, catch my eye and stop me dead in my tracks.
Something is very wrong.
“Kaye, if you need any help. Any help at all. I’m here. All you have to do is ask.”
“I said I was fine. Now if you could please leave me alone? I’m tired and just want to go to bed.”
My stomach clenches and it takes everything in me not to rush to her side, but Kaye’s made it very clear she will handle things on her own. All I can do is wait for her to come back to me, but I know ligature marks when I see them.
And I know exactly what’s got Kaye down.
“You’re back with Scott.” I see it in the way she moves, how distant she is, and the fear simmering beneath the surface.
“What? No!” Kaye’s emphatic in her denial. “I’m not.”
She turns away and takes a deep breath before facing me again. Her gaze hardens into one of determination instead of sadness.
It’s weird, and very out of character, as if her emotions just flipped on their head.
“You’re definitely back with him.” Maybe I shouldn’t press, but Scott’s a dangerous man. I take a step toward Kaye.
I could end this for her. Fight her battle and free her from an abusive man. I have the skills. I know what it takes to bring down a monster, but this isn’t my fight.
