ribs. Tomorrow, I’d look like I’d gone ten rounds with a pro boxer. Luckily, Luke’s ex had a well-stocked medicine cabinet, and I helped myself to a couple of ibuprofen and washed it down with a glass of water. Slamming the glass down, I stared at the guy in the mirror. Who was he? I didn’t even recognize him anymore.
At one time, I would have been itching for retribution, payback for making me hurt. That jackass, Jason, would have been running scared. But it was that impulsive behavior that had landed me in prison once before. Cole Calder almost died because of me, and his life would never be the same, but back then, I hadn’t had it in me to care.
Now ... now, I didn’t want to care. It was easier to just plow through life—through guys and girls—with no feelings attached, but prison had fucking ruined me. All that time to reflect and remember. And then she’d happened. The short blond whirlwind who barged her way into my head. I had to walk away now—there was no other choice—but I could, at least, do it right.
For once in my life, I could do the proper thing.
I finished cleaning up and collected my belongings, throwing them into the rucksack I’d arrived with, and grabbed my cell phone.
Is he there?
It vibrated seconds later.
No.
But you should stay away.
A new pain sliced through me, and I hated how weak it made me feel. For a split second, I wished I’d never laid eyes on Cara O’Connor. Then I wouldn’t feel ... this. But what did it matter? We were done. I was leaving and never coming back. I retrieved the roll of bills from a glass in the cupboard, grabbed the bag, and gave the place a quick once-over.
It was time.
~
C ara’s dorm building was deserted. I watched her window from my usual place, under the cover of darkness and shadows. She was in there. I could just make out her, moving around, probably cleaning up the aftermath of the fight. I allowed myself a couple more minutes to watch her before I slipped from out behind the trees and cut across the path to the door. It was a risky move. Security could still be there, or he might be looking out for me, but I needed to do this.
When I reached the door, it was open and unguarded. I made my way to her dorm room, my hand lingering in the air. Everything about this felt wrong. I’d only just found her, and now, I had to say goodbye. But we could never be together. O’Connor would see me dead before he let me near his daughter. Even I knew this was a fight I couldn’t win.
I knocked and Cara opened the door instantly as if she’d been waiting. She stepped to the side granting me access and I slipped inside.
“Are you okay?”
She closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed staring up at me. “I’ll live.”
“Listen, about what happened-”
“Don’t, just don’t. Please.” Cara dropped her eyes and I wanted to go to her. To wrap her in my arms and take away all the pain in her voice.
But I hoisted the rucksack up my shoulder and cleared my throat. “Has he tried that before?”
“I can handle Jason, Braiden. You don’t need to worry about him.”
I arched my eyebrow wanting to push the issue, but I had to leave and soon.
“I’m leaving.”
“So it’s true? What he said? About who you are?” Tear laced eyes snapped to mine and I gulped surprised by how much it hurt me to see her like this.
“The less you know, the better. I only came by to tell you I’m leaving.”
Cara’s lips parted, and I was sure I heard her gasp quietly, but she schooled the hurt in her eyes and straightened her back. “Okay.”
“Okay then. I guess I’ll be seeing you.” I started toward the door, but her voice pinned me to the spot.
“Wait, where will you go?”
I glanced back, my hand on the door handle, and said, “Home. It’s time for me to go home.”
~
S tanding in front of Chastity Falls Academy, I wasn’t sure this had been my best idea ever. My stomach churned like a laundromat, and I felt ready to puke.
At one time, I would have been itching for retribution, payback for making me hurt. That jackass, Jason, would have been running scared. But it was that impulsive behavior that had landed me in prison once before. Cole Calder almost died because of me, and his life would never be the same, but back then, I hadn’t had it in me to care.
Now ... now, I didn’t want to care. It was easier to just plow through life—through guys and girls—with no feelings attached, but prison had fucking ruined me. All that time to reflect and remember. And then she’d happened. The short blond whirlwind who barged her way into my head. I had to walk away now—there was no other choice—but I could, at least, do it right.
For once in my life, I could do the proper thing.
I finished cleaning up and collected my belongings, throwing them into the rucksack I’d arrived with, and grabbed my cell phone.
Is he there?
It vibrated seconds later.
No.
But you should stay away.
A new pain sliced through me, and I hated how weak it made me feel. For a split second, I wished I’d never laid eyes on Cara O’Connor. Then I wouldn’t feel ... this. But what did it matter? We were done. I was leaving and never coming back. I retrieved the roll of bills from a glass in the cupboard, grabbed the bag, and gave the place a quick once-over.
It was time.
~
C ara’s dorm building was deserted. I watched her window from my usual place, under the cover of darkness and shadows. She was in there. I could just make out her, moving around, probably cleaning up the aftermath of the fight. I allowed myself a couple more minutes to watch her before I slipped from out behind the trees and cut across the path to the door. It was a risky move. Security could still be there, or he might be looking out for me, but I needed to do this.
When I reached the door, it was open and unguarded. I made my way to her dorm room, my hand lingering in the air. Everything about this felt wrong. I’d only just found her, and now, I had to say goodbye. But we could never be together. O’Connor would see me dead before he let me near his daughter. Even I knew this was a fight I couldn’t win.
I knocked and Cara opened the door instantly as if she’d been waiting. She stepped to the side granting me access and I slipped inside.
“Are you okay?”
She closed the door and sat on the edge of the bed staring up at me. “I’ll live.”
“Listen, about what happened-”
“Don’t, just don’t. Please.” Cara dropped her eyes and I wanted to go to her. To wrap her in my arms and take away all the pain in her voice.
But I hoisted the rucksack up my shoulder and cleared my throat. “Has he tried that before?”
“I can handle Jason, Braiden. You don’t need to worry about him.”
I arched my eyebrow wanting to push the issue, but I had to leave and soon.
“I’m leaving.”
“So it’s true? What he said? About who you are?” Tear laced eyes snapped to mine and I gulped surprised by how much it hurt me to see her like this.
“The less you know, the better. I only came by to tell you I’m leaving.”
Cara’s lips parted, and I was sure I heard her gasp quietly, but she schooled the hurt in her eyes and straightened her back. “Okay.”
“Okay then. I guess I’ll be seeing you.” I started toward the door, but her voice pinned me to the spot.
“Wait, where will you go?”
I glanced back, my hand on the door handle, and said, “Home. It’s time for me to go home.”
~
S tanding in front of Chastity Falls Academy, I wasn’t sure this had been my best idea ever. My stomach churned like a laundromat, and I felt ready to puke.
Similar Books
