Page 30 of Beyond Repair: Part One

"We love you, and we love Nina," Kai amends with a little smirk at Henry who huffs and tries to hide a smile. "We want the five of us together again but—" He looks at Henry to see if he'll get scolded, when he doesn't Kai continues. "We understand if it's a commitment you aren't ready to make."

"Good job," Henry murmurs and kisses Kai on the cheek. The happy bastard beams and cuddles Henry into his side.

"I need a second," Ridge whispers and rushes from the room.

Henry shifts to stand, but I wave him off. "Let him have his space."

Instead of curling back into Kai, Henry leans forward and places his arms on his knees. "She needs him, Trev."

"And he needs her," I add, knowing we're all feeling the pressure to be on the same page.

"What about you?"

Kai's question has only one possible answer. Looking my friend in the eye, I give him my truth. "She's our heart. Of course I need her. I refuse to be far from her."

They nod, thoughtful once again. I just really fucking hope Ridge can sort his feelings and realize with Nina, withus,is where he's meant to be.

Chapter 24

Nina

Itwist the deadbolt and turn the lock on the door handle. Their dull thuds match the sluggish beats of my aching heart.

The sound of my parents’ car starting and eventually backing down my driveway slowly lowers the shutters on my feelings. This would be a time to process my feelings, as my therapist would say, but I can't. I refuse. These emotions are damaging and downright traumatizing.

It's like I've lost them all over again.

I'm alone in a house that suddenly feels freezing and empty. A chill works up my spine as silence slithers into my ears and chokes me until I'm mute. By the time I no longer hear their engine, I'm numb. Nothing but a shell that can't even feel the tears running down my cheeks.

I may as well be a robot for how stiff my legs are as they carry me to the living room. The sun shining through the window doesn't match the black hole that I have become, so like a thoughtless zombie, I close the shades.

As if that one task took the final shreds of my energy, my knees buckle. The plush rug beneath me does nothing to soften the blow to my bones, but deep down I register that the fluffiness feels nice against my wet cheek as I curl up on my side.

They're gone.Today was their final day in town to make sure I settled in. And now Mom and Dad are just...gone.They're going home.I want to go home.

The wind must gust because the windows whistle in reminder thatthisis my home. Somewhere in the shade of my heavy weight of numbness, a flicker of sadness and discontent try to pull a sob from my throat, but all they do is make my tears fall faster.

I'm cold.I want my mom.

The wall creaks.I want my dad.

Alone...alone...alone...

Chapter 25

Ridge

The closer we get to Nina's house, the more my gut twists. "When did they leave?"

I've felt sick since the moment Meg called Henry. When Henry relayed Meg and Will's concerns for Nina since they left to go home today, we all abandoned our breakfast to head over there.

We've been showing up at her house for the past four days around lunchtime and haven't heard much from her parents since two days ago when we sat around the fire together.

"About an hour ago," Henry answers my question. I can't tell if his voice is tight or if it's just my energy twisting shit.

Fuck.Meg and Will's worries about how Nina would handle their departure seem to be rubbing off on me. I don't know this version of Nina. I have no idea what to expect if sheishandling it poorly.

My idiot friends tell me I challenge Nina, but what the hell does that mean? All I hear is that I'm annoying and get on her nerves. Although, that isn't very different from when we were kids. Now that I think about it, she was always more cuddly withHenry, would never stop talking with Kai, and followed Trevor blindly.

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