Page 147 of Bound By Crimson
It might be gone by now. She’d noticed it once since then and left it alone, pretending not to care. Pretending it didn’t bother her.
But now he was in the bathroom.
And she was alone, and the nightstand was right there.
She stared at the drawer.
Her hands stayed still in her lap.
It’s nothing.
Her fingers moved before her thoughts did.
She pulled it open with care—just enough to peek in. And there it was. Folded neatly with soft, looping handwriting.
Kai—written neatly on top.
Lyric opened the note.
Thank you for last night. I needed that. I can’t wait to see you again—just one more month. Miss you already.
-C.C.
There was no name. Just initials.
No context. Just… implication.
Her stomach twisted.
The bathroom door creaked open behind her, and she quickly slid the note back into place.
She closed the drawer with shaking fingers and tried to mask the heartbreak clawing at her ribs.
A secret, now sewn into her silence.
Kai walked out, still drying his hands.
“You good?” he asked.
She smiled too quickly.
“Yeah. Just finishing up.”
Kai reached for the suitcase and zipped it closed, then walked to his nightstand, and quickly gathered a few papers—hesitating at the note. He slipped it into his pocket, and cast a glance at Lyric, too quick to be innocent.
Lyric’s pulse thundered beneath her skin. Her heart was racing, but her face stayed still. Was he looking at her that way because he knew? Had she left the note crooked? Touched something she shouldn't have?
He didn’t seem to notice. Just kept moving. Still, she couldn’t stop gripping her hands in her lap, knuckles tight, fingers digging in like she could anchor herself there. It wasn’t until he crossed the room that she saw it—half-moon indents pressed deep into her skin.
“I’ll call every night,” he promised. “And hey—you’re doing so good here. My mother said you’ve really stepped up.”
“That means a lot,” she managed.
He leaned down, pressed a kiss to her cheek.
It was soft but fast.
Like brushing dust off a shoulder.
