Page 22 of Pastel Kisses

Sarahstompsup the stairs, slamming the door behind her like a petulant child.

A slow, victorious smile curves my lips.

I won this round.

The bulky remote on the bed taunts me.

I know turning on the TV means giving in to her mind games, but curiosity gnaws at me.

After a long moment, I cave.

I click it on, flipping through the channels, pretending—for just a second—that this is a normal night at home.

Except, it isn’t.

Every station is coveringme.

My face is plastered across the screen, reports flashing about my disappearance. I expected some media coverage, but nothingthiswidespread.

When I finally settle on a channel, the news anchor is mid-sentence.

“There are still no leads in the disappearance of Avery Dawson. For those of you just tuning in, she is the girlfriend of popular movie star Jaxton Knight. Her last known location was her home after being dropped off for the evening. The police have no leads and ask that if anyone has information, they call the Silver Creek Police Department.”

A picture of me flashes across the screen, followed by a shot of Jaxton, Liam, and my dad standing behind him.

Jaxton’s golden eyes lookhaunted, the sharp angles of his face etched with exhaustion.

Liam’s normally steady expression is just as worn, and my dad…

His entiresoulis in his eyes.

A sob rips through my throat before I can stop it.

I curl into myself, hugging my knees to my chest as silent tears slip free.

I miss them. I miss them somuch.

The tight bear hugs from my dad. The sound of Liam’s deep drawl when he teases me. Jaxton’s lazy smirk when he’s trying to distract me.

The ache in my chest swells, unbearable.

For a brief moment, the weight of hopelessness threatens to suffocate me.

But I don’t let it.

I can’t let it.

I breathe deep, forcing the sobs down.I have to fight.

For them. Forme.

The sound of the key turning in the lock jerks me upright.

Sarahstormsin, her face twisted with rage, her upper lip curled in an ugly snarl.

Instead of speaking, she does something unexpected—she punches me.

Hard.

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