Page 40 of Begin Again

“Cats are sly,” Kaden thought aloud. “I think they don’t allow themselves to be whipped.”

I laughed weakly.

“So you’re doing better already,” he said, pleased. He grew serious again and held me tighter by the wrists. “Nothing she said is true. You know that, right?”

His voice was soft but nevertheless urgent.

I shrugged.

“But she’s right!” I didn’t want to have this conversation.

“Bullshit.” Kaden’s voice grew louder. “Everything she said was complete bullshit—what could you possibly agree with?”

“I… I’ve gained weight!” I escaped his grasp and covered my face with my hands. Kaden’s fingers now rested on my thighs.

“Okay, that might be true.”

I peered through my parted fingers. “Thanks a lot.”

“What? It’s just the truth.” He shot me a crooked grin. “I can see your curves now. It’s hot, Bubbles.”

He pinched me in my side, and I hit him. He shrank back, laughing. Once more he leaned forward and inspected me closely. Then he nodded. “Now I can leave you.”

With these words he stood and walked out of my room.

I swallowed hard. Kaden had meant well, but I needed more than a few encouraging words to fill this emptiness that my mother’s visit had left inside me.

And I knew of only one cure for that.

---