Page 15 of Beyond Repair: Part One

I want to hide. From my mom. Dinner. From the world. Tugging my blanket up to my chin, I curl into the couch, then watch as my mom and dad approach me. Mom sits by my feet, and Dad drapes another blanket around me before kissing my forehead.

"Take a nap, sweet. We'll watch over you. Just rest now."

I'll never sleep as well as I do when my dad assures me of his protection. So as my mom turns our vampire show on for the millionth time and puts the volume on low, I allow myself to drift off into a dreamless sleep.

Hushed voices are the first thing I notice as I wake. Blinking, I rub away the sleepiness from my eyes and take in how cozy my living room is. I must have slept through the rest of the day, because now it's dark, but the warm lighting from the dining room and kitchen are creating a gentle hue around my living room.

The TV is still quiet, and it looks like the main bad boy vampire is carrying his girlfriend to safety.Yum.

"You shouldn't be here!" I hear dad hiss. Immediately, I stiffen and look around, only to realize Mom and Dad are nowhere to be seen. More muttering. "No. You need to leave."

A lump forms in my throat and my belly twists uncomfortably.Who's here?A thud sounds, then Mom becomes partially visible behind the wall that separates the entryway and the living room. She looks pale and anxious, freaking me out even more. But Dad's next words send me spiraling.

"No. Seriously, you all need to leave. Nina's not ready for this."

Vomit crawls up my throat, but gravity shoves it back down as I jump up from the couch and sprint to the one place I think I'll be safe.Someone's here. People are here! Forme.

As quietly as my shaking body can allow, I yank the small door open by its tiny brass latch and sneak into the stairwell nook. I don't even care if there's no handle to get out from the inside. All that matters is I can control this space. Mom and Dad know about this spot, but I hope they forget about it.

Please, please, please, leave me alone!

Chapter 12

Kai

"You shouldn't be here!"

Fuck.I expected Will's reaction to us intercepting the pizza delivery man and showing up with their dinner unannounced, but I didn't prepare myself for the tantalizing scent of rose drifting from the open doorway.

She still smells the same.

A strangled sound erupts from my throat, but I rein myself in when Henry squeezes my hip.

"Will, please. We need to see her," Trev begs quietly with his hands splayed in front of him like he's trying to prove he's not a threat.

Will shakes his head. "No. You need to leave."

We don't move an inch. If anything, I’m eager to keep moving forward until I can finally lay eyes on my girl.

"Boys..." Meg murmurs, glancing behind her.

"Please, Mrs. Solace!" Ridge pleads desperately, trying to push Trev to the side, most likely to force his way into Nina's house.

My grip on the two pizza boxes tightens when Meg steps back with a hand to her chest and looking pale. Will stiffens and straightens his broad shoulders even more. Trev also glares at his cousin.

"Ridge," Henry whispers, tugging on our friend’s shirt to protect him from himself.Fucking hell, he scared Nina's mom.

I watch warily as Nina's dad takes a deep breath and unclenches his fists. "No. Seriously, you all need to leave. Nina's not ready for this."

Unable to hold myself back any longer, I swallow and say, "Sir?—"

Just then, a flash of brown darts behind Meg and disappears from view. "Nina!" I gasp, lurching forward with no resistance as Trevor and Ridge brush past Mr. Solace.

Stumbling after them, I'm slammed with a glorious wall of rose and coziness as I take in Nina's new home. The only problem with her space is that she's nowhere to be found.

"Where did she go?!" Ridge demands, turning in a circle in her entryway. He's flushed and flustered, clearly struggling with the concept of moving further.

Not realizing Trevor had disappeared too, I jump when he comes running back around the corner and takes a step toward the staircase to the right of us.

---