Cole leans against the counter in my kitchen behind him, arms crossed over his chest, feet crossed over one another.
They don’t move. They just watch.
I swallow down the thickness in my throat and blink back the stupid fucking tears that seem to not want to subside, no matter my efforts.
Tyler’s words from months ago echo through my head.They will protect you on instinct.
Anthony places my duffle on the ground and presses a kiss to the top of my head. With a nod to Tyler, he exits the apartment.
Cole follows, giving Tyler a pat on the shoulder and a murmured, “She’s safe.”
With a muscled arm, he wraps it around my head and places a kiss in my curls and exits the apartment right behind Anthony with a click of the door.
Few words were even said. Yet somehow, they knew Tyler’s command.
I shift on my feet, refusing to meet the piercing emeralds I know are focused on me. Nervously, I toy with the beanie in my hands but soon enough my eyes betray me, and I feel that undeniable pull lifting my gaze to Tyler's.
He stands to his full height, boots thudding against the woodfloors as he makes his way to me. No words are said as he wraps his arms around me and presses my head to his chest.
“Tell me everything,” he murmurs in my hair.
My body trembles as I fight another sob clawing up my throat. He leans down, gently cradling my face and wiping my tears with his thumbs.
I’m not okay, Tyler.
“I’ve been getting these spam calls but...” My voice catches. “it was him.”
He doesn’t say anything, he simply watches me while stroking his thumbs along my wet cheeks. The predator, analyzing every detail I’m giving him.
“He begged for me to tell him where I am, and I was too fucking stunned that I kept him on the phone for too long and he’s probably going to be able to trace the call to the location.” I back out of Tyler’s embrace and place my hands on top of my head as my frantic cries escape me. My heart beats violently in my chest, making it thunder in my ears and amplifying my spiraling thoughts.
“Baby…” He reaches for me.
I can’t stop it. My brakes have gone out on this steep downward spiral.
“I won’t let that happen.” He takes a step forward.
I step back. “How do you know?”
Shaking my head slowly, I shove past him and run back into my bedroom, placing the duffle bag on the bed where me and Tyler first were together.
The bed where you knew you loved me.
“Sunny, you can’t leave. You still have a month left.”
I ignore him, going through my things, deciding what to give and what to just leave behind. Maybe I’ll donate it. Maybe I’ll just trash it. I don’t care. I just need to stop being the fucking problem in people’s lives.
I am the problem.
“Sunny stop, please!” He grabs my wrists.
I rip myself from his grip, looking him directly in the eyes despite the fact I know my face is breaking just like my heart.
“I. Am. The. Problem,” I say in a broken, choked sob.
And finally, the predator breaks, and through the cracks, I see the human, hurting for me in a way that no one has.
I have secrets, Tyler. I have dark places no one should see.
