Page 69 of Cause When You Love Someone
For a second, I felt Essen’s gaze haunt me. I didn’t appease her curiosity by explaining my drink choice. Today was all about Isabella, and I wanted to keep it that way.
Right as my worries got the best of me, Isabella appeared from behind the curtain in a teal, strapless dress covered in stones. I thought the cleavage was a bit much, and I could tell when Essen shook her head that she thought the same.
“That’s beautiful, but I think it’s showing a lot of skin,” I proposed. “An older lady once told me: A classy woman shows legs or shoulders but never both.”
Isabella wagged her finger at me. “That’s a good one. Somebody needs to tell the girls at my school. They always look slutty in halter tops and booty shorts. Next one!”
While Isabella changed into the next dress, I decided to post a few pictures of myself in the boutique. I was only able to snap a few pictures since I became distracted by a message from an unsaved number. Whoever sent the message also put me in a group chat with Ishmael.
Superman: Who is this?
(616)331-0908: You know who the fuck this is, bitch boy!
“This nigga has lost his mind,” I grumbled as I responded to who I assumed was Chaz.
(616)331-0908: Fuck you, Clarke! You think you’re Kim Kardashian. Well, bitch, I’m Ray J!
The video Chaz sent to the group chat caused air to escape my lungs. I remembered the day clearly, and though I wasn’t doing anything other women hadn’t done, I didn’t want it on display for the world to see.
Instead of texting him back, I sent a voice note explaining how I was sending him to jail.
(616)331-0908: I don’t give a fuck about that. I’m going out with a bang, baby.
Superman:Keep me out of y’all shit.
I responded, trying to convince Ishmael we didn’t have anything going on. I also reminded Chaz he wasn’t supposed to contact me.
(616)331-0908: I’m not stopping until I’m ready. You want me to share you with the world? I got you, bitch.
I didn’t know if Chaz’s warnings were honest, but they were staggering. Tears chased one another down my cheeks as the weight of Chaz’s threat slammed into my chest. My vision scattered around the room, landing on my horrid reflection in the three-way mirror.
“Clarke!” Essen yelled. “Are you okay? Talk to me!”
I fanned myself as I sat back on the couch. “I’m all right. Water. I just need water.”
One of the ladies dressed in all-black switched off when I spoke my request.
In between slow blinks, I saw Essen hike up her dress and kneel at my side. “Is there anyone I should call?”
Embarrassment shimmied up my bones at the idea that I had no one to call in case of an emergency. My mom and I weren’t talking. Simone was still unreliable and upset. Sage was my only option, but I had leaned on him so much in the last few months, I refused to call him.
“Clarke, I think you should go to the hospital.”
I shook my head. “It’s not that bad.”
“Aren’t you pregnant?” Essen quizzed in an unsure tone. “I didn’t want to pry earlier, but if you are, maybe you need to eat or lay down.”
“I just need . . . ”
Those were the last words I remembered saying before everything went black.
Chapter 12
Ishmael
Paralyzed
“Ishmael Breezy Brown!” Durk tapped my leg. “You sure this the move you trying to make?”
