Page 64 of Something So Strong

“Please. He’s done nothing wrong. He doesn’t even know them.”

“Kai, I’m right here. Nothing is wrong. You’re just dreaming and it’ll be over soon.”

“Out of the way, Jesse.”

I whip my head towards Alma and shoot her a look that says, not a chance in hell, sweetheart.

“Let me in,” she repeats when I won’t move.

Turning to face her, I cover the handle so she can’t unlock it. “You’re not going in there.”

“Yes, I am.”

“Why—”

“Jesse!”

“Sure doesn’t sound like he’s crying for you.”

“Just move. You don’t understand.”

“I understand enough.”

Alma elbow-jabs me in the side with another of her crazy Columbian fighting moves. “Get out of my way.”

I grunt, but hold my ground. “You can either give me the key, or you can fuck off. Cause there’s no way I’m letting you past.”

“I have to be in there.”

Notwithstanding her penchant for rule following, Alma doesn’t strike me as someone who is intrinsically malicious. So I can’t help but feel this is her way of holding onto something she has no control over.

“Are you dating him?” I inquire boldly, knowing the answer. And the aggravation of her stare proves how spiteful of me it is to ask. “Is he still fucking you?” Alma’s lips purse and her breaths deepen. “You better not be waking—”

“I’d never do that!” she snaps.

“So, why do you need to be in there so badly?”

“I…”

“Stop! Leave him alone!”

“I…” Alma laments. “I clean up and put him back to bed.”

I scowl at her. “Are you fucking serious?” Now, his abject terror makes all the sense in the world. Why wouldn’t he refuse the revelation when he was tricked into believing he was still doing fine?

“He doesn’t need to know.”

“Like fuck he doesn’t. How do you think it’s better for him not to know? That… That’s screwed up, Alma.”

“You don’t know what he needs?”

“Judging by the look on his face when I mentioned it to him, neither do you. How is he meant to cope if he can’t accept it?”

“Look, Jesse. You haven’t been here long enough—”

“No! You look here, Alma. I don’t want you letting yourself into Kai’s room anymore. Not unless you hear it from his mouth that it’s what he wants. I don’t know what you might have had together, but it’s over now.”

“What? And you think you’re special enough? You’re a man. He isn’t interested in you. It’s just the act he puts on to scare asshole guys away so they don’t hurt him.”

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