She joins me with a rough laugh. “Fuck.”
I don’t reply, and when our laughs quieten, she says, “I think he thinks it’s a little too late.”
“Ain't that the goddamn truth,” I confirm, jumping off the vanity and walking toward the suede curtain when I feel my stomach rumble.I need to wrap this up. I’m feeling hungrily sick.
“Are you okay, Cherry? Like,reallyokay?” I freeze at her question, swallowing through the lump of cement that’s just dried indefinitely in my throat. “You know I don’t like listening to my gut, since it’s a lying bitch, but something tells me you’re not. That I’ve missed something.”
You have.
I’ve needed you.
So. Fucking. Badly.
Every morning, I wake up and I take on the day, not knowing whether my demons will rear their ugly fucking heads.
Every day I’m just surviving…the same way you are.
Everything I wish I could say, I don’t.
I clasp my hand around the curtain to steady myself before I fall. I didn’t expect this from Cameryn. This isn’t like her.
“I’m totally fine.” Lies, lies, lies. “You didn’t miss anything, okay. I’ve just been busy. I love you, but I have to go. I’ll message you tomorrow.”
I hear crunching rocks, then she yells, “Yeah, I’m coming.”
“Love you, Cam,” I whisper, and as I drop the phone from my ear, I hear her talking. I don’t wait to hear what she has to say before hanging up.
I can’t help but wonder if her curiosity came from Tyler, if he asked her to check in on me,like that. Because it’s not like her to voice her concern—that’s all fucking Tyler. He was always all over his intuition, could see pain no one else could, and I know that if he saw me now, no matter how tall and thick I’ve built my walls, he would still find a way to tear right through them.
The rubber soles of my Chucks clap down against the gray timber flooring when I jump off the stage and amble toward Caleb, Violet, and Cleo, sliding around the edge of the white bar that is still lit up with its red fluorescent lights.
I brush up against Caleb’s tricep and take in the array of tacos. There’s chicken, cauliflower, fish, and some shredded beef or pork, I’m not too sure.
“Damn, they look good tonight.” I lick my lips, my stomach rumbling again. Clenching my fists around the counter, I try to settle the subtle shake rattling through my body from the phone call.
Caleb’s large hands come to my waist, and I chuckle when he lifts me off my feet and plants my ass on the countertop. He leans over, snatches up a taco, and hands me what he knows is always my first choice. It’s a spiced cauliflower taco with pickled cabbage, fresh citrus guacamole, charred corn, cilantro, and a creamy garlic sauce. It’s fucking delicious.
Caleb secures his own and devours it in only two large mouthfuls. I often wonder how the heck he isn’t taken out by heartburn.
“You ladies killed it tonight,” Caleb comments, wiping both palms together before collecting the sauce that seeps from the corner of his mouth with the pad of his thumb. Violet leans over the bar and pinches his stubbled chin, shaking his head from side to side as a smirk tips his lips.
His smile is bright when she says, “Awww, that’s cute of you, Cay.”
She still has his chin in a tight hold when he reaches upwards and locks his fingers around her small wrist. He pulls it away from him, his dark eyes dropping to her knuckles where he assesses her swollen bones. The clinging aftermath from punching that asshole last night.
“Do they feel okay?” he asks, his brow furrowed in clear concern.
She snatches her hand back and shrugs. “Much better than I’m sure his nose is feeling.”
He places his open palms back to the chrome countertop and grins, licking over his lips as he rolls his bottom lip beneath his teeth. “Truth. I should have fucking killed him, though.”
The tension between those two has always been electric, but both parties have not brought it to fruition yet. I think they enjoy the chaos of unyielding tension.
My phone vibrates again from deep inside the pocket of my joggers, and I pull it out, expecting to see a message from Cameryn, only Keaton’s name lights up the screen.
Keaton
B, call me when you’re free.
