Page 123 of Love Me

“Kaden.” Abigail’s voice sounds from behind the door, interrupting our moment.

I grunt, and Celine slaps my chest. “Go. It’s okay.”

“I love you so fucking much.”

I kiss her one more time and go see Abigail.

She has bags under her eyes, and her hair resembles a bird’s nest. I don’t think I’ve ever seen her this disheveled.

I follow her inside her room. Her eyes roam outside the window, looking so damn wretched. “Dane was in the hospital. His car caught fire while he was training. That was not an accident. I tell him the truth, and a few days later, he lands in the hospital.”

“Is he okay?”

“He’s out, but still…” Her entire body shakes and tears coat her lids. “How can I sit across from Grandmother and not want to stab her with the fork? How can we just pretend? I… I want to fucking kill Felix.” This girl has worn a mask all her life. I know she’s a good, caring person. The confident girl is, sadly, just a facade. Seeing her this wrecked makes me livid. “I just want this all to end.”

“It will. It fucking will.”

Tomorrow, I will lay all the cards on the table, and whether we want to or not, we will work together as a team.

“I don’t want to be alone,” she says before breaking down in tears again.

“Guys,” I shout.

A few moments later, everyone, including Mia and Hunter, is inside Abi’s room. Apparently, everyone bonded while I was preoccupied with my troubles. We all hop in her bed, hugging her, and she falls asleep.

When the others trickle out one by one, Celine sighs. “She’s not okay.”

“She will be. She’s strong.”

I wrap my arms around Celine’s waist, and she says, “I love how protective and caring you are.”

“Thank you.”

She pins me with a serious stare. “Well, remember how trusting and loving I am about this when you find me in a similar situation with Hunter. We’ll support his emotional needs as well.”

Fuck my life with a bulldozer.

“Love you too.”

With that, she slips out of bed. I let Abi sleep, and I walk downstairs, coming face to face with Hunter.

“How is Abi?”

I inspect him, and he appears to be genuinely worried.

“What? She’s a cool one,” he says defensively.

“Did she tell you something?”

“No, but Dane came by yesterday, even after everything. That guy is stubborn as fuck.”

I know that all too well.

Hunter smirks at me, entering Celine’s room.

“Haven’t you heard of knocking?” I hear her ask.

“You have nothing I haven’t seen before.”

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