AllFreeNovel
Share Us
I’m at Cal’s house.
Willa is here with me.
Brad can’t get to me here.
I’m safe.
“Nightmare,” I manage to say, eventually.
“That was one hell of a nightmare, babe. You scared the shit out of me. I couldn’t get you to wake up,” Willa says, her eyes still showing her panic.
“I’m sorry,” I whisper, wringing my hands in my lap.
“Don’t, Belle,” Cal says as he comes to my side and grabs my hand, stopping me from fidgeting. “We’re here for you. You just scared us. That’s all.”
“What time is it?” I ask to change the subject. I don’t want them asking what I was dreaming about, although I’m sure they can guess.
“It’s around three in the morning,” Willa says, then turns to Cal. “Do you have stuff to make Midnight Macaroni?”
I burst of excitement shoots through my body, and I almost don’t recognize the feeling. “Do you?” I ask Cal eagerly.
“Of course I do. What kind of question is that?”
Willa and I squeal like we used to when we were kids and Cal would make us mac and cheese during a sleepover. It’s just boxed stuff that he adds bacon and extra cheese to, but we all love it. We started calling it Midnight Macaroni after Willa and I watchedPractical Magic. We were too young for Midnight Margaritas.
We all head down to Cal’s kitchen in our pjs. Whichtakes a lot longer than it should. This man does not need this amount of house. It’s ridiculous.
Willa and I sit at the island while Cal gets started on our mac and cheese. I look at the empty stools next to me and blow out a heavy breath.
“We can invite Kai. He’s probably awake,” Willa offers.
“I doubt he’ll come. He hates me.” I look at her to see her turn to Cal. He just shrugs.
“What do you mean? Why do you think that?” Willa asks in a gentle voice, like she’s afraid she’ll spook me.
I tap my fingers on the marble countertop anxiously before sighing. “I don’t know. I honestly don’t. He was weird to me that night in the woods, and our relationship hasn’t been the same since.”
“You haven’t really been around. Are you sure? Maybe he’s just —”
“Stop, Willa. Don’t speak to me like I’m a child who doesn’t understand life yet. Something caused Kai to act like a dick to me before we played that night. Then Ezra vanished, and I attributed his shitty behavior to that after. Which I’m sure was the cause of most of it.” I shake my head in frustration. “But the day Cal told us about the record deal, and I chose school over the band, he never forgave me and has treated me like he can’t stand to be around me since.”
Willa, to her credit, doesn’t argue with me, but the way her brow furrows and the clear confusion across her face makes me question everything. I look over at Cal, who’s watching the water boil instead of looking at me.
“What? You both clearly don’t agree. What is it?” I demand.
Willa looks at Cal and when it’s clear he’s leaving this upto her, she glares at him. Turning to me, she takes my hand and sighs.
“I want to make sure you understand that I’m not denying anything you just said or trying to invalidate your feelings in any way. I just have been around Kai a lot. . . obviously, and that’s not how I see it. He looks hurt when your name is brought up. He looks hurt when Cal takes your phone calls. Hell, he even looks hurt every time we perform ‘Shattered Dreams.’”
“What?” That’s all I manage.
“He’s hurting Belle. He doesn’t let it show, but I see it. Cal sees it too, even if this conversation is making him so uncomfortable, he’s trying to make the water boil with his pea brain.”
“I just don’t want to be in the middle! They’re adults. They know how to speak. Let them do it,” Cal exclaims while whipping his arms around dramatically.
“Well, that’s obviously not going to happen if Kai keeps acting like a giant butthole when he’s around Belle. Maybe tell him to use his words like a big boy,” Willa taunts.
Cal glares at her. Willa glares right back.
