Page 84 of A Wrench in the Plan
I didn’t make it but twenty feet before I fell to my knees.
A scream so loud and raw tore from my throat that didn’t even sound human. I felt Evan behind me, but he didn’t move in to touch me. He just let me scream. Let me rage. Let me release all this shit I’d been holding inside of me.
My palms hit the rough pavement as I slumped over. My chest heaved with every breath.
Then I stood.
Renewed.
Alive.
And ready to move on. To help us all heal from what had happened and make damn sure it never happened again.
“You okay?” Ev asked as he came up and stood beside me.
“Yeah,” I told him, meaning it.
“Guilt?”
“Not over killing him,” I answered truthfully.
“I still love you,” he said, and though I wasn’t looking at him, I knew his lips were kicked up in a small smile.
I let out a long breath. That was when I realized that I needed to hear those words. Needed to hear themafterI’d done what I’d done.
“Good,” I said, reaching for his hand. “Because I love you. And you, me, and Cat… our life together is gonna be great.”
He squeezed my hand and sent me a smile.
“Payback’s a bitch?” I teased, shaking my head. “Really?”
“Shut up,” he shot back, laughing as he pulled me toward the compound.
And as fucked up as it might have been, I laughed too.
CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT
Cat
We were supposed to be going to get tacos. They said they wouldn’t be much longer when they texted to tell me that was the plan for tonight, but that was almost an hour ago.
Shifting on Chry’s bed, I tried to focus on my notes from class. I still felt like I was playing catch-up, but at least I hadn’t had to redo the whole semester. Most of my professors had been sympathetic, even though I barely told them anything. The very vivid scars on my face might have helped with that. Yes, I hated it, but I was trying to move on and prove that I wanted to be there.
I couldn’t understand what was taking them so long.
Something was wrong. I felt it in my gut.
But I was too scared to venture out and look for them.
Just as I was about to get up and nervously pace while texting people, the door burst open. I let out an embarrassing yelp.
My gaze was frozen on Chry. His eyes went wide for a split second. Had he forgotten I was waiting here for them?
Sensing things were not right, I jumped up and rushed over to him. My panicked gaze darted over every visible inch of his body.
There was blood, but I couldn’t see any wounds.
Evan stepped in behind him, giving Chry a little push so he could shut the door. Ev had little spatters of red on his shirt and some on his neck, but he seemed fine as well.
