Biker Boy: Savannah?
My chest aches. Dull. Heavy. The kind of hurt that settles in slowly.
Another call. Voicemail.
Then another text.
Biker Boy: Did I do something wrong?
That’s the one that almost breaks me.
I shove my phone into my purse.
It buzzes again. I pull it out despite myself.
Lena: He looks pissed.
Lena: Like… really pissed.
Lena: He just left.
“He left,” I say softly.
Bella exhales. “Men don’t like not knowing,” she says evenly. “Doesn’t mean you owe him answers right now.”
I nod and text Lena one last time.
Me: I’ll talk to you tomorrow.
I silence my phone completely. The road stretches dark and steady ahead of us. I lean back into the seat and breathe. Whatever comes next can wait until morning.
TEN
SAVANNAH
I letmyself into the house quietly, like the night might still be listening.
The door barely clicks shut before I hear it. Nails on hardwood. A low thump. Then two shapes come barreling down the hall like I’ve been gone for years instead of hours.
“Hey,” I whisper, dropping my keys just in time to catch Menace as he launches himself at my legs. Psycho skids in right behind him, tail wagging so hard his whole body wiggles. They crowd me, noses everywhere, whining and snuffling like they need to make sure I’m real.
“I know,” I murmur, crouching down, burying my hands in their fur. “I missed you too.”
I kick my shoes off, step out of my clothes piece by piece, leaving them in a trail that leads to the bathroom. I turn the shower on as hot as it will go and step under the spray, finally letting myself feel what happened tonight.
The water pounds against my shoulders and I tilt my head forward, letting the water run through my hair, over my face,down my spine like it’s washing the bar off me. I stand there until my fingers wrinkle and my breathing evens out.
When I climb out, I dry off slowly, then pull on a big T-shirt. One I’ve had forever and smells like home. I crawl into bed, my sheets cool against my skin. Menace jumps up first, circles once, then plops down hard against my side. Psycho follows, wedging himself against my legs. I stare up at the ceiling for a minute, listening to the quiet. No music. No bass. No voices telling me who I am or what I’m worth. I turn onto my side, tuck my hands under my cheek, and let my eyes close.
Sleep doesn’t come gently. It drags me under.I’m back in that house I swore I’d never think about again. The walls feel closer than they should. The air is thick, heavy, like it’s pressing against my chest. He’s there before I even see him. I hear him first. “Look at you.”
His voice is angry, familiar in the worst way. I turn and he’s standing in the doorway, arms crossed, eyes cold and disgusted. “You really thought anyone else would want you?” he says, gesturing at my body like I’m something broken. “You just keep getting bigger, don’t you? Louder. Needier.”
I try to speak. My mouth opens, but nothing comes out.
He laughs. That same cruel laugh that always made my stomach drop. “God, you’re so dramatic, Sav. Crying over nothing. Acting like a victim when you do this shit to yourself.”
I shake my head, backing up, my heels catching on the carpet. “Stop,” I say, but it comes out small and weak.
