Page 71 of Hate Me

I couldn’t let that happen again. I wouldn’t.

We wouldn’t lose her too.

I pulled out my phone and fired off a text to Cas.

Caleb: We have a problem concerning me helping Skylar.

He startled me as he responded right away, despite being at work.

Caspian: You can’t do it?

Caleb: Not yet.

Caspian: Not in the mood for cryptic, Caleb.

Caleb: This is a suicide mission to her.

Caspian: Well, she won’t be carrying it out, so it won’t be.

Caleb: No. She wants it to be.

The dots appeared then disappeared several times over.

Yeah, he was shocked to the core, something that was so incredibly rare for him.

Caspian: Leave her be for the next couple of days. I’ll ensure Bastian does the same. In the meantime, I’ll have Doctor Granger come in to assess her. Then we’ll take it from there.

Caleb: Okay.

Caspian: Are you all right? I know this is triggering for you.

I started at his response, him actually showing care to me. I thought I remembered him doing that when I’d been drunk, but that had been an extreme circumstance to him and he hadn’t exhibited anything like that since.

Caleb: More worried about Bastian finding out about this. Maybe he shouldn’t.

Caspian: He and I have an agreement about transparency. He’s not fragile like he was. He’s grown stronger.

Caleb: Okay, I trust in you.

Caspian: That stopped being true two years ago.

I gritted my teeth at his biting response.

He was already back to that then.

Caspian: I’ll get you a suite at a hotel until Skylar’s stabilized enough for you to do what I called you back here for. Or you can head back to your rehabilitation facilities until you hear from me.

Son of a bitch.

Caleb: I’m not going anywhere.

Caspian: You came here for the specific reason to help her.

Caleb: It’s not the only reason.

Caspian: Enlighten me.

Caleb: We’ll talk about it when you get home.

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