Page 8 of Catch Me

Even though I’m concentrating on my breathing, I don’t miss the lie of omission he just spouted for me. Technically, I had one at Reid’s house, but we’re not telling my parents about the stop we made.

I wrap my hand in his and squeeze. After a few moments, my breathing returns to normal, and I feel as if I can think clearly again. Mom and Dad are still staring at me, so I steel my shoulders. “Something happened when Reid was in the hospital. I started to crack. I don’t know. It reminded me so much of Brady, and then I just started to itch all over. I wanted to leave. I wanted to get away from it all because it hurt too much.”

“That’s understandable,” Dad says.

Mom casts him a furious look. “It’s understandable that you would feel that way, Briar, but when you get like that, you need to tell someone. Running away is not the answer.”

“I know,” I tell her.

Her gaze narrows a fraction, like she’s trying to figure out if I’m just saying what she wants to hear to get out of punishment, but I’m not.

Lex rubs my back. His massive hands sink a steady pressure into me. I close my eyes and breathe. “I really am so sorry.”

Mom stands, making me move back. “I’m glad you’re okay, Briar, but I think time will tell whether you’re actually sorry or not.” She starts to walk away, but turns around. “I’d get some sleep if I were you, you’re going to school tomorrow.”

Dad stands afterward, bringing me to my feet. He kisses me on the cheek. “We love you, Briar.”

“I love you too.”

He follows Mom, leaving Lex and I in the living room. It feel so empty in here without them. “What do you need me to do?” Lex asks.

I shrug. “Nothing. I’m just going to take a shower and go to bed.” I turn toward him. “Thank you for being here though.”

He stares at the carpet. I know he doesn’t want to leave, but I’m not in danger of running away again tonight—most likely ever.

I stand on my tiptoes to hug him. His hands come around my back, squeezing me to him. “Don’t worry about me, Lex. I promise I’ll be fine.”

“It’s impossible for me not to worry about you.”

I start to pull away, and Lex’s phone rings. He looks down at the screen and answers. By his next words, I know it’s Reid on the other end of the line. “Yeah, I just dropped her off.”

He lifts his gaze to meet mine, and his lips turn into a thin line. I walk toward the front door, so he has no choice but to follow me. I open it for him. He gives me one last weary look and steps outside. “Bye,” I mouth.

He just stares, his phone to his ear while he listens to whatever Reid’s saying, so I wave and close the door, leaving his heavy gaze on the other side.

I pad to the bathroom, turning on the light when I walk in. It’s the same as I left it. I don’t even think my parents came in here when I was gone. I strip the clothes I’ve been wearing for a week and cleaning in the motel room sink off before stepping into the shower. I turn the shower spray on, letting it run from lukewarm to hotter than Hades, hoping it will scald some of my skin away. I shampoo my hair, remembering how Reid did that for me once in this very same tub. My stomach bottoms out, and I clutch the side of the tub. Once the water’s run clear, I turn off the faucet and squeeze the water out of my hair.

I move the shower curtain aside and stare right into the big, square bathroom mirror. My hair’s fully back to its original color now. My skin is pale like my mother’s, and my eyelashes are still wet like they were when I was crying. I grab a towel on the rack and wrap myself with it before moving to my room at the end of the hall. My bed is made, which I’m pretty sure I didn’t do before I left that day, and my phone is sitting on the edge. My old phone, the one I tossed when I was near the hospital. Somehow, someone had gotten it back. I thought for sure it would’ve been stolen right away, even if I did toss it into a line of bushes.

I grab it and hit the screen. Miraculously, it brightens to life in my hands. When I check the battery level, I realize someone has already charged it for me. There are hundreds of texts and missed calls.

CALL ME.

WHY ARE YOU DOING THIS?

BRIAR, WE’RE WORRIED.

YOU LEFT ME?

I MEAN IT, CALL ME.

WHERE ARE YOU?

I LOVE YOU.

My breath hitches. I stare down at the screen, reading and rereading that text. While I stand, there’s a knock on my bedroom window. When I look up, I see Reid. His palm is pressed against the glass. I toss my phone on the bed and move that way. I take the screen out and lift the window. “What are you doing?” I hiss. “I thought you had to take it easy.”

He waits until he’s in my room, staring at me. “My girlfriend comes home, and you don’t think I’m going to be by her side whenever I can?”

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