Page 30 of Save Me

CHAPTER 14

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Ipick upmy phone that has been left abandoned on the dresser since I’ve been back, and as I scroll through my missed messages, I can’t help but smile at the ones from Sam. Jax was right, she wasn’t going to let me disappear off her radar, not without knowing exactly what was going on.

The other messages I respond to quickly, mainly all from the girls from work. Jax said he made up a cover story, not wanting too many people to know about what had happened, wanting to keep everything in the dark until he was able to figure out what was going on. His excuse for beating up Greg was that he was stupid enough to send me outside alone in the dark, and even more stupid to not notice I had left and walked home, forgetting my phone and bag behind.

I didn’t think anyone would believe such a simple lie, but my texts from Red and Alex suggest otherwise. They both asked how I was and why I was off work for so long, checking in to make sure I was okay, and catching me up about Greg’s recovery after Jax lost it on him.

I send a few texts quickly, responding to their messages and explaining my phone has been broken, making up excuses for my absence at work. Within a few seconds, new messages from both of them light up my screen, and a few minutes later I’ve assured them that I’ll be back to work soon and I can’t wait to fill them in. I exhale loudly, relieved they don’t ask any more questions, seemingly believing everything I’ve told them.

I scroll further down in my texts, making sure I didn’t miss anything from the past few weeks, but no one else has bothered to message me. I spontaneously start typing a message out, explaining—truthfully—how I’ve been. I write about how I’ve had a very challenging few weeks, how I got hurt and needed stitches, how I feel so completely overwhelmed by so many different emotions sometimes that I question if I can even keep living like this. I write about how I’m now grieving someone who wasn’t even a friend. I pour my heart and soul into the text before quickly hitting the send button, where it joins the rest of the messages I’ve sent to Garrett and haven’t received a response to.

I dial Sam’s number as I dry my eyes and bring the phone to my ear. It doesn’t even get to the second ring before Sam’s voice is on the other end of the line.

“What the fuck, are you okay? I’ve been so worried about you! Jax told me someone took you and he didn’t know where you were.” Sam barely stops to take a breath as she fills me in about everything that Jax told her, everything that she’s been worried about since I stopped responding to her texts almost three weeks ago, and doesn’t stop interrogating me until I tell her I’m fine at least a dozen times. The sound of her voice has a calming effect on me, and I sink onto the bed listening to the melodic sound of her talking.

“So, what exactly happened then? He took you and just…” She trails off, and the silence grows between us as I try and think of what to say, try and come up with a cover that I should have already figured out.

“Nothing happened,” I say slowly, as my foot taps against the hard floor. “He took me as a way to send Jax a message, that’s all. He was… angry that Jax had beaten him up and I still owed him some money. I think he wanted some sort of payback, a way to knock Jax down a bit, and since he could never win in afight against him, this was his way of making Jax feel like he lost something.”

“That’s so messed up,” Sam says, her voice quiet as she listens to me. “But that’s it, right? Nothing else happened?”

I close my eyes, trying not to allow my mind to go back to the lake house, to not let my memories resurface despite Sam’s probing. But I can’t help but see the bedroom, hear the sound of Tanner’s voice in my head, feel the sound of the door as it crashed into my nose—and Bryce. A tear slides down my cheek at the thought of Bryce, of someone who tried to help me but ended up dying as a result.

“Evi? You there?” Sam’s voice cuts through my thoughts, bringing me back to reality.

“Yeah, sorry, I… I waited for Jax to come get me and spent most days watching TV. I was saying in their boathouse Sam, theirluxuryboathouse.” Not a lie, but not the entire truth. Before I can worry about what to say next, Sam cuts me off.

“Okay good, good. I was so worried. We know what Rhett can be like, and I don’t know. Maybe I watch too many crime shows but when Jax told me he took you, I was so scared I wouldn’t see you again.” The sound of her crying fills the line and I struggle to contain my own emotions as I reassure her that everything is okay.

“If you ever need to talk, you can call me, you know?” she says through sniffles. “Actually, you should probably talk to a professional too.”

“What?”

“A professional. Like a therapist.” She trails off as she blows her nose. “I know you’re okay, but what you went through is still traumatic. Hell, I’m traumatized by the last three weeks and I wasn’t even the one that was kidnapped.”

“I don’t think I need to talk to anyone,” I say, trying to make my voice cheerful. “I’mfine, and people who are fine don’t go to therapy.”

“The more you say you’re fine, the less believable it is,” she says, and I can picture her rolling her eyes as she says it.

I run my nail over my thumb, my heart beating quickly in my chest, worried that she’s seen through my façade.

“Just tell me you’ll consider it,” she says lightly. “Even when everything is fine, it can be cathartic to get everything out in the open.”

“Fine, I’ll consider it,” I lie.

“Good,” she responds. “Now, when can I come visit you?Someonehasn’t let me come over… won’t even give me his address.”

I can’t help but smile at Jax’s protectiveness over me, and I’m thankful for it. I don’t know if I can face anyone in person right now, especially Sam. We’ve known each other for so long that she would see through any lies I tell her, and all the lies I’m telling myself.

“Soon, I promise. I just need… time. I’m fi—”

“Fine,” she finishes for me.

“I just need some time to process everything. To find some sense of normalcy again. And once I do, you’ll be the first person I want to see.”

“Well, I need to redecorate my apartment and I have a can of paint sitting here with your name on it. So pick a day, whenever you want, and come help me. I’ll grab lunch or dinner and we can catch up properly… I just want to see you.”

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