Page 197 of When We Fall: Part Two
“I got there in time.” He closed his eyes and breathed out. “I didn’t know where else to take her, so here I am. She’s in the car. She passed out before I called you. She kept saying your name and Fox’s. I-I didn’t know where else to go?—”
I pushed past him and opened the passenger door to see her sitting in Fox’s oversized t-shirt, no pants on. She was passed the fuck out, tears dried on her cheeks, and a book clutched in her hand while Cotton meowed in his carrier in the backseat. She looked awful. She was skin and bones. Definitely not my vibrant girl.
I called out my apartment number to Colten as I unbuckled her and lifted her into my arms. She was light as a feather.
“Bring her stuff,” I said, moving quickly into my building and going to my apartment. I was able to unlock the door and still hold her in one arm.
Once inside, I took her directly to my bedroom and laid her in my bed.
“Fuck, LeeLee,” I whispered in a shaky voice as I smoothed her tangled curls away from her face. “Baby.”
I heard Colten come in twice, bringing in her things. I kissed her forehead gently and left her in my bed before returning to him.
“She doesn’t have much. Her cat,” he said, gesturing to Cotton in his carrier.
“Let me call someone,” I muttered, pulling my phone out. I hit Ryder’s name.
“You coming out?” Ryder’s voice met mine. He’d tried to get me to hit up some bars with him and Trent tonight, but I’d declined.
“Something happened. I need a no-questions-asked.”
“What do you need?” He was immediately all business.
“I’ll send you a list. I need it now, man. Hurry.”
“On it.”
I disconnected the call and sent him a list of things I’d need before sitting in my chair as Colten took the couch.
“Where are the guys?”
“I don’t know,” he said, rubbing his eyes. “I expect Cole to reach out at some point.”
It was as if the devil heard him because his phone buzzed. He pulled it out and frowned at the screen before answering it.
“Hey,” he said. “Cole, we need to talk.”
I couldn’t hear what was said back, but a hard look crossed Colten’s face.
“No fuck face, she’s not OK. You need to come home. I have to talk to you. No. It can’t be over the phone. I’m serious. No. No, that won’t be a fucking problem because she’s not at the house anymore. Fine. Yes. I’ll see you in a few.”
While I couldn’t make out what Cole was saying, I did hear his voice rise.
“I’m going to talk to him,” Colten said. “Keep an eye on her. She’s not herself.”
I nodded tightly and watched him get up. He left without another word. I sat in silence for a long time before getting up to take Cotton out of his carrier and holding him on my lap.
And I cried because this was so fucked.
I woketo Trent shaking me an hour later.
I sat up, making Cotton jump off me.
“When did you get a cat?” Ryder asked, placing a cat litter pan, food, and some litter on the floor and frowning at me.
“It’s Cotton. Rosalie’s cat,” I said, rubbing my eyes.
It took me a moment to come to.
