Trinity scoffs, “She’s been yanked in mud and rolled around for months now, yet no one has decided to speak out and help her. This is the consequence of people with voices not speaking out.”
“Nothing ever disappears on the internet, Trinity. Even if I did pay all these people to keep their mouths shut, it wouldn’t have led to another outcome.”
How does she know that? If I had enough strength in me, I would ask that question.
From the moment that both my parents died, I’ve felt the world’s weight on my shoulders. Not stopping for a single second, I’ve worked to become someone they would have been proud of. A daughter who keeps their memory alive by affording the home they built from the dirt up.
I’ve gotten everything I’ve prayed for, only for it to be ripped away from me. The pressure on my shoulders seems much heavier than before.
Fingers to my temples, I grasp and push. Hoping to halt all thoughts to my brain.
I can’t do this.
I say through a sob, “I don’t mean to be rude, but I need space.”
“I don’t think leaving you alone right now is a good idea. I would feel more comfortable with staying until Elijah gets here,” Trinity says too sweetly. A kindness that I don’t deserve.
I always reject people from my life because I feel like I’m not worthy of love. Yet all she wants is to be a friend and support me through my downs.
She puts a cheek on top of my head, and it’s hard not to fall into her embrace.
“It feels overwhelming at this moment, but one day, this is just going to be a distant memory. I promise you that.”
She tries to radiate positivity, acting like this isn’t the end of the world, but I’m not following the same path as her.
Not at all.
“Where the hell is she?” His panic-struck voice rings out from somewhere in this expensive-as-hell hotel. “Someone, please?—”
Cuddled up in bed with the covers clutched under my chin, I don’t have to look at the door when it creaks open. I can just feel him. I don’t move an inch under his intense stare. In a flash, he’s kneeling beside the bed.
He cups my cheek, face torn. “Baby, are you okay? They’re telling me you’re upset, but not why.” Elijah’s voice is soft, like he’s afraid he might break me with it.
Elijah Drakos is an empath. I’m scared to tell him because he’ll blame himself for this. Nothing more needs to be placed on his shoulders. At least not because of me.
“That job I had lined up for next school year isn’t happening anymore,” I say hoarsely, watching his face fall.
“They fired you?” he asks, shocked.
I nod, placing my hands under my pillow and fisting them. “I got an email while you were at the gala.”
Mouth dropped open, he stammers, “What could possibly be their reasoning? They didn’t even give you a chance to work one day to see your work ethic.”
Back facing the large windows, I’m pretending the world outside doesn’t exist because the universe feels too big for me right now. My pillow is damp. I don’t understand how there’senough fluids in me to continue crying. How am I not running out of water?
“They had to let me go based on my unprofessional online presence,” I whisper, squeezing my eyes shut. “I get it; who would want a rumored groupie teaching little kids in school? It is unprofessional and goes against school rules. Why would they treat me any differently from the next person?”
He exhales slowly. “But you’re not a groupie. If people actually take the time and do research, there is no evidence of you—for God’s sake, this is part of the lawsuit!”
He complies without a complaint when my fingers grasp his arm and drag him into bed, suit and all. I shift as close to him as possible, resting my cheek on his chest. His shirt smells like the cologne he always wears. Comforting. Familiar.
“Can I ask you a question?”
He runs his hand through my hair, and I melt.
“Of course, Sweet Cheeks.”
It’s crazy how much I relax at his touch.
