Se connecterKassidy's POVEli hadn’t spent the night at home in two days, and whenever I reached out, he would send a simple text saying he had to be somewhere important. The apartment felt hollow without him occupying the space. I kept my phone clutched tightly in my hand, watching the black screen for any sign of life, but my calls went straight to his voicemail box hour after hour.When he did choose to reply, it was never a real conversation. My screen would just light up with a few abrupt words stating he was occupied with business elsewhere and couldn’t talk.I would sit on the edge of my mattress, pressing the speaker tightly against my ear just to catch the sound of his breathing.“Eli? Where are
Kassidy's POVThat same night, I was slowly drifting into an exhausting slumber under three thick blankets, when a loud creak outside my bedroom door made my ears twitch. I heard the front door open and close, followed by the heavy, dragging sound of his boots on the living room rug. I knew it was Eli; he was finally back from Wisconsin, but I had no strength to get up and go to say hi to him. My limbs felt like they were made of lead.Eli's shadow moved across the hallway, and the door of his room opened and closed beside mine. A few seconds of silence passed, and then I heard a sound that made my heart ache in the dark. It was a low, broken sob, followed by a muffled choke as if he was trying to bury his face in his hands to keep from waking the whole house.It sound
Eli’s POVI couldn’t just drive all the way back to the university with my head in shambles like that. I peeled out of our family driveway, the tires screaming against the asphalt, and pulled into the gravel lot of a small, quiet diner about two miles down the main road. I needed to see my sister without my father hovering over us, and I needed to know why she had been dragged into his sick game. I sat in a secluded booth in the far corner of the restaurant, my fingers tapping anxiously against the Formica table as I stared at the entrance doors.When she finally arrived per my frantic texts, her hands were shaking. The glass doors of the restaurant swung open with a dull chime, and I stood up instantly as Piper made her way through the dining room.Every step sh
Eli’s POVWhen I finally arrived home in Hudson Falls, Wisconsin, I parked my car and slammed the vehicle door shut, barely remembering to grab my keys as I sprinted up the familiar concrete driveway. My chest was pumping from the adrenaline of the three-hour drive, my knuckles white as I gripped the handle of the front door and threw it open, expecting to find a scene of total medical chaos.But I was shocked to see that Piper was doing alright.She was sitting on the couch and crocheting, curled up in the corner of the sectional under a fleece blanket, a ball of pink yarn rolling on the carpet near her slippers as her fingers worked a pair of plastic needles with total ease. There were no paramedics or oxygen tanks anywhere near her.
Kas POVThe bright afternoon sun began to dip below the horizon across the campus sidewalks as Simone and Bree waved goodbye and headed back to their dorms. The moment I was alone, the quietness around me became heavy again.A part of me felt guilty for what happened with Luca. I kept playing every single interaction we had over and over in my head, wondering if I had led Luca on, if my friendly greetings in the hallways had been taken the wrong way, or if I had missed a massive warning sign.Maybe I had somehow led him on without knowing. I needed to see him one last time all by myself to know what had really happened. I couldn’t just sit on my ass anymore, wondering about the hidden reasons behind his terrifying actions. I needed to look him in the eyes and hea
Kassidy's POVThe very next day, I found myself on a wooden bench on campus and watching the other students walk past, feeling like I was still completely disconnected from the regular university routine. My body was tired, but Bree and Simone had refused to let me stay locked up in my dark bedroom for another afternoon.“You need the vitamin D, Kassidy,” Bree said, leaning across the table while her tight blonde corkscrew curls bounced around her face. “Sitting in that house is only going to keep your brain foggy. Look at this shade, it’s the perfect spot.”“She’s right,” Simone added, adjusting the colorful headbands she used to keep her thick black afro out of her eyes. “We aren’t going to make you talk about the hospital or that trash bag Luca. We just want you to sit out here with us.”Simone had bought three cold cups of green tea from the campus café, and the bitter, earthy taste was actually helping to clear the dry feeling from my throat.“I’m glad you guys forced me out,” I
Eli's POVThe sun hadn't even broken through the clouds when I slipped out of the hotel bed. I left very early before Kassidy woke up to go meet with Nova. I stood by the side of the bed for a moment, watching the slow, even rise and fall of Kassidy’s shoulders under the thick white duvet. She look
Eli's POVI bent to press my mouth on the hollow just inside her hip, tracing my tongue across the skin, tasting a faint tinge of salty sweat. I was making her hot. Maybe next time, I'd use an ice cube to cool her off.Still driving her mad with those soft strokes in the hollow just above her openi
Eli's POV Kassidy led me into the adjoining room in the hotel suite. The moment we got inside, she kicked off her shoes. Kicking the door further open so I could carry her through it, I crossed to the bed, tossing her down upon it.Kassidy landed amongst a pile of pillows, half reclining. She was
Kassidy's POVIt looked like an absolute Christmas miracle, the decorations in the room.I turned around slowly, my eyes wide and shiny with tears as I looked up at Eli. He was standing right behind me. His large hands were tucked casually into his jeans pockets, and there was a hopeful look in his







