Page 25 of Beyond Repair: Part One

Sweat beads on my lower back as I realize I need to go back out there and face them.How embarrassing.Why they haven't run for the hills, I'll never know. I wish I would have paid more attention to their conversations yesterday instead of zoning out and letting my mind shut off.

I can't do that again. I may have known them as boys, but I don't know them as men. Although Mom and Dad wouldn't have told them about me if they thought the guys were dangerous.

Theyaredangerous though. I'm terrified of the way they infiltrated my life yesterday. It seemed so easy for them to take up space and quiet my demons.

Yeah, they're dangerous. I can't let them in like that anymore because the look on Kai's face when I saw him watching my meltdown about near killed me. My emotions hurt him, and when I saw the sadness and confusion flicker in Ridge's eyes, my heart cracked right down the middle.

They may never inflict harm on me, but I'm damaged. I'll shred them just as Mr. M shredded me. They won't have the brutal scars I do; the wounds would be beneath the surface. If I allow them in, I'm dooming us all.

I've had enough pain in my life. I can't stand any more hits.

Having Kai, Henry, Trevor and Ridge here again has me closer to keeling over in agony. They are a reminder of all that I used to be. Every time I spoke a word yesterday, I watched hope flare in their eyes.

Soon they will learn there's no hope for this broken thing.

Chapter 20

Kai

My laughter dies a slow death the longer Nina doesn't come out of the bathroom. It's been almost ten minutes. The first seven, I figured she needed to do other stuff in there, but now I'm not so sure.

"Should I go check on her?" Ridge murmurs, looking uncomfortable at the idea of disrupting her privacy. Like we aren't disrupting it by showing up unannounced two days in a row.

"I'll do it," I say and only hesitate for a second before I'm walking down the hall. I tap two knuckles softly on the bathroom door so as not to scare her. "Nina?"

Nothing.

Glancing back toward the other three, Trevor looks ready to kick the door down. I hold up a finger in hopes of taming the beast. Henry might have been better for this job, but I need her to know I'm here and she can count on me too.

"Are you okay in there?" I call out again. No answer.

I wanted to chase her when she ran to the bathroom in her big sweatshirt and bare legs on display. Now, I really fuckingwish I would have. Hoping the door is unlocked, I grab the handle.

"I'm coming in." The knob turns and with a small push, it opens, shocking the shit out of me. "Neen?"

Fuck, I hate pushing her boundaries, but why the hell isn't she responding?

The first thing I notice when I step into the bathroom is the scent of roses. Breathing in like an addict, my energy boosts. Then I find Nina with her hands on the countertop and her head hung.

"Flora?" My voice is thick with worry, and when the nickname I gave her when we were kids slips out, I almost cry.What I wouldn't give for her to call me?—

"Fauna..." Nina's reply is nothing but a puff of air and still it blows me away.

"I-I missed that." What a lame thing to say. "I missedyou." I don't get a verbal response, but her body seems to droop even more. "What are you doing in here? I was getting worried."

"That's the problem." Shocked by yet another statement from her, I blink with my mouth hanging open. She continues. "I don't want you to worry."

A humorless laugh escapes me. "That's all we've ever done when it comes to you. I remember worrying about you from the moment I met you. Hell, every time I pitched you a baseball, I was terrified I would hit you. Or, Christ, you could have lost your balance and stubbed your toe at any given second."

I let my eyes scan her from head to toe. What I don't expect to see is a wicked scar on her calf. My entire body tenses and my jaw cracks.What the fuck happened there?!It looks like something took a chunk out of her leg.

Nina's tiny voice breaks me out of my murderous stare down with her leg. "This is different."

If my tone drops a few octaves, it's because I'm fucking pissed. "No, Nina. It's just stronger now. I've always worried about you and I always will. You're the flora to my fauna."

She sighs and turns around. I try not to react to the obvious exhaustion on her face, but I can't resist stepping forward. "Why are you guys here, Kai?"

I frown. "Why wouldn't we be here?"

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