Cull exhales, locking eyes with me.
“When I got home from the park… he was waiting. The guy. He jumped me.”
He watches me closely, waiting for a reaction, but I give him nothing. The numbness won’t allow me to show the splinters of my heart turning to ash.
When I stay quiet, he continues. “I tried to fight back. He was just too strong. H-he had a bat.” His breath shudders out.
I can’t do this anymore.
He hurt the man I love.
“How badly—” I clear my throat. “How badly are you hurt?”
“The worst of it is a concussion and a cracked rib. Otherwise, it’s just some bruising, aches, and pains. I’m fine, Hud.”
Is he serious right now? He got the shit beat out of him, and he is going to sit there and tell me he’sfine?
“You’re not fine,” I snap, fists clenched.
“Yes, I am. It could have been worse.” He shifts against the headboard and winces again.
“Right! You could be dead!” I jump to my feet and start pacing, guilt clawing up my throat. It quickly morphs into anger. “You lied. You’ve kept this from me.”
He speaks calmly, face soft. “Things had just imploded between us. I didn’t want to add to your stress.”
I laugh, low and dark. “Because no matter what, you think I can’t handle it.”
He’s right. I can’t.
Cull doesn’t deny it. Just stares down at his lap.
He thinks I’m weak. Pathetic. Broken.
“How did you even find out?” He finally asks.
“Hadley told me.”
He scoffs. “Of course she did.”
I’m so tired. Mentally. Physically. My spirit shattered a long time ago. Now the demons are dancing on the shards.
I sit on the end of his bed, done.
Just… done.
“This is my fault. If I had answered your calls instead of getting high, then maybe—”
“Don’t do that. He could’ve gotten us both if we’d been together. I’d take this beating a million times to keep him from getting to you.”
“When will you realize you shouldn’t have to?” I argue.
“BUT I WANT TO!” he roars.
His chest heaves, eyes wild. Sweat beads along his hairline. He's shaking, either from pain or everything he’s been holding back.
“This—” I ground out, arms going wide from my body. “This is what I was trying to avoid. But no matter what I do, I’m always causing pain. And this psycho won’t stop until he destroys everything.” A bitter laugh escapes. “Hadley was right.”
I shake my head, dropping back down onto the edge of the bed
