“No, Jack, you did the right thing. His dad sounds furious, and you don’t need to be around that.”
Dad meant well, making sense, telling me the truth maybe, but I didn’t want to hear it. I wanted Cal. I wanted him out of hishouse and away from his dad, away from everything trying to tear him down. I wanted to know that when I walked out, his dad calmed down and left Cal alone.
After another few minutes, I felt bad for making everyone sit on the floor with me while I cried like a baby. I forced myself up on shaky legs. All three of them held me in some way until I was steady enough.
“Maybe we should call in a domestic disturbance. Have the police check on him,” Dad said.
“No.” I shook my head. “Don’t. It only makes things worse for Cal if his dad is bothered.”
“This man sounds like an asshole.”
“Honey.” Mom tsked. “Not helping.” To me, she said, “Go get a shower, sweetie. The heat will relax your muscles.”
I nodded and with Ty’s help got upstairs. He left me alone in the bathroom to pull myself together in private. I was so out of my mind with worry for Cal, I hadn’t noticed or cared about anything. I was lucky to have even made it home.
How had this night turned into a nightmare?
Showering consisted of me huddled on the tiles and letting the water beat down on me until it turned cold. I fell into bed a little damp because details were just too much to handle. Mom and Dad checked on me, then later, Ty did as well.
My texts to Cal went unanswered, and the worry I held on to twisted into fear. Did Cal think I had abandoned him too?
I lay on my side in a cocoon of blankets, alternating between shivers and cold sweats, checking my phone every ten seconds, eyes dry and burning. Closing them was no relief as it only made Cal’s dejected face that more vibrant. Hours passed. Sleep would have been a mercy I didn’t deserve.
Please be okay, Cal.
Please.
Jackdidn’tmakeasound as he left, but that didn’t matter. He took my heart with him, leaving me cold and empty. The frigid spike that straightened my back might as well have been the gust of air as he opened the back door. The hollow ache in my chest was the door latching closed and Jack being on the wrong side of it.
Alone.
Fuck.
“Whatever excuse you have for yourself can wait.”
I raised my eyebrows just enough to ask a silent question. Why? Or rather, was that supposed to be news to me? When it came to my parents, I’d always be waiting. Waiting my turn to be important. Waiting for my chance to grab their attention.
“Your momma’s picking up Cara on her way here.”
Great. Family night. And it was all my fault. He didn’t say it. It sat accusingly in his eyes.
No wonder he was so pissed.
I nodded and rubbed the bruise on my chest. The soreness ran deep with tendrils now reaching like vines tightening around mylungs. I’d swear Sasha was a mastermind, a genius, if I wanted to give her that much credit. She’d come into my orbit like a comet and struck hard, leaving lasting impressions.
Daddy jerked his tie loose, and I used it as a chance to escape long enough to splash water on my face. If I could get the words out, tell him about the abuse, would he ever be ready to listen them?
In the downstairs bathroom, I doused my eyes, then stared at my reflection as the droplets made cold tracks on my cheeks.
Make him listen.
I must’ve stood there for a while, zoning out. The front door opened with muted conversations through walls, including the distinct higher pitch of Cara among the noise. The redness in my face had receded a bit, making me look tired instead of pitiful. I took a deep breath, thought of Jack, then left the bathroom to face the firing squad.
“Cara, go to your room. We need to talk to your brother,” Momma said as I cautiously approached the three of them.
Daddy had rolled his sleeves to just below his elbows and unbuttoned his collar. As casual as he would ever be, ready to spar.
“Why?” Cara sassed. “I’m part of this family too. I should hear what’s going on.”
