All Chapters of Blunt Pain: Chapter 31 - Chapter 40

NorthHe could feel Charlotte breathing down his neck. She was everywhere, and he felt claustrophobic. She went home with him, and ate dinner with him. Francine had just given him a look, one he understood all too well. His father had left right after his meeting with Charlotte’s parents, not even saying goodbye to him.He looked at all the texts he’d sent Axl, but all of them remained unread, each grey tick pressing harder against his chest than the last. He couldn’t even call Aspen to find out if she was okay.He knew he couldn’t hide out in the bathroom forever, so he splashed cold water on his face before he opened the door. Charlotte was still in his room, making herself comfortable on his bed.“It’s getting late,” he said, hoping she’d get the message, and leave him alone.“You know, North, things will be so much easier if you would just cooperate,” she said.“I’ve done everything you asked. I’m still my own person, and I’m still going to do my own thing. I don’t care if you lik

MeritNeither Aspen nor Axl had seen her in the hallway. She was jealous, and she hated it. She couldn’t help it, though—Aspen was living with her boyfriend, and she’d known Axl longer, too. Now that North was out of the picture, how long would it be before something sparked between them?She took a deep breath and waited nearly twenty minutes before she walked out of the alcove and headed to her car. The narrow space smelled faintly of cleaning solution and old paint, and her legs ached from standing still for so long. The drive home wasn’t one she relished, but she wasn’t sure she could be around Aspen and Axl right now. He never hesitated to be there for Aspen, never hesitated to protect her or shield her. He didn’t hesitate to help you either, the voice in her head said.She parked her car in front of the guest house and clenched her jaw when she saw Jackson through the windows of the main house. He had a strip of bandage over his nose, and both of his eyes were tinged dark purple

AxlThe stick was walking down the stairs when Axl let himself into North’s house with his key. The atmosphere felt different, and he resisted the urge to gag when he saw her. It would just make North’s life more miserable if he did.The house felt staged now, like a show home instead of the place he had grown up wandering through without knocking. He realized North’s suffering was worse than he’d let on. It was like all the good air had been sucked from the space she occupied.“You just walk into other people’s homes?” she asked him.“I’ve been walking into North’s home since I was ten years old,” he said, and headed through to the kitchen, barely glancing at her.“Axl! You are a sight for sore eyes!” Francine said, as he walked around the counter and hugged her. The hug grounded him, tightened something in his chest that he was trying to bury. Francine had known him long enough, well enough, to know what he needed at that moment.“It’s only been a week, Francine,” he said, with a ch

AspenIt felt like old times, even though not that much time had passed since their last movie night, but it still felt good to have North with them. The sense of familiarity wrapped around her like a well-worn blanket, easing the tight knot that had lived in her chest all week. She drove back to Esperton with him, her hand on his thigh, and his hand covering hers. The steady rhythm of the road and the soft hum of the engine grounded her in the moment.It had been the hardest week of her life, but now, she felt lighter. She felt like she could look life in the eye once more, and believe there was still hope for them. North seemed more like himself, the sharp edge of exhaustion in his face softened by something close to relief, and the silence surrounding them was comfortable, like it had always been.Axl and Merit occupied one side of the couch, and Aspen settled between North’s legs. He placed the convenience store bag on her lap, and she grinned. The paper crinkled softly beneath he

AxlHe drove away from Merit’s house with a heavy feeling in his chest. He smiled faintly when he realized that North hadn’t believed a word he’d said earlier. He knew exactly where he was going. Amarito Cove. The place where Peyton’s new parents lived. How could he not?The argument with Merit weighed on him, and when she whispered that she loved him, he hadn’t slept at all. He liked her. He cared about her. But he didn’t love her. And he wasn’t convinced that what she felt for him was love, either. They barely knew each other. They had a bond born from trauma, and he was sure she’d latched onto that.Her jealousy was a problem for him. A big one. He hated it—especially the way she kept turning everything back to Aspen. He hadn’t lied to her. He really wouldn’t choose. But he would walk away. And he knew North wouldn’t hesitate to walk in the same direction. Neither would Aspen. Which meant that, in the end, he would choose them. He simply hadn’t known Merit long enough to say he wou