Page 77 of Unfix Me

With a growl, he grabbed the phone. He tried to stand, but I wrapped an arm around his waist to keep him with me.

“Don’t go through this alone,” I murmured in his ear. “Please. Let me be here for you.”

His eyes closed as he nodded. I pinched his chin and turned his face to me.

“Hey. No fear, baby.”

He tapped the screen, then brought the phone to his ear. “Hey, Dad.”

There was a raised, angry voice on the other end. I couldn’t make out specific words, but the despondency on Sen’s face told me enough.

Scratch that. It wasn’t enough.

“Speaker,” I whispered. His eyes widened and he shook his head. “I can’t protect you if I don’t know what’s going on.”

He obliged and dropped the phone on the bed.

“We trusted you, Sen. How could you do this to us? To your mother. She’s a mess because of you.”

I had to take a deep breath to keep from yelling at this asshole myself. No wonder Sen was so terrified.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about,” Sen said in a shaky voice. “I’ve been going to my appointments.”

“That’s not what Mr. Hamilton said.”

Sen’s face paled. “H-he talked to you?”

“He called me this morning. Do you have any idea what you’re doing over there? Holding hands with a…” His dad let out a frustrated sound. “You haven’t been to your appointments in three weeks.Three weeks! You’re lying to us, slipping in your therapy. You’re with a man for fuck’s sake!”

I moved to sit behind Sen and wrapped my arms around him. He leaned back, trembling all over.

“Well?” his dad went on. “What do you have to say for yourself?”

“I-I don’t know, Dad.”

“You’re coming home. It’s non-negotiable.”

“No!”

“And you’re going back into Dumont. They have an all year program. I’ll keep you in there until you realize how fucked up you are.”

Shaking my head, I grabbed the phone. Sen tried to protest, but I ignored him.

“Hey, sir. My name’s Kai. I’d say it’s nice to meet you, but from what I’ve heard so far, it’s really not.”

There was a long pause before he responded. “Are you the one who’s been confusing our son?”

“I think you mean the one who’s helping him heal from you.”

“Excuse me?”

“I know people like you, Mr. Taylor. Plenty of them. And where I’m from, what’s coming out of your mouth is considered abuse. He may be afraid of you, but you don’t frighten me one bit. If you have anything to say to Sen, maybe you should come out here to talk to him so that I can meet you in person.”

As he started to say something else, I ended the call. My hands shook with my anger. Sen collapsed against me and I held him tightly.

“I’m sorry,” I said. “I shouldn’t have done that.”

“It doesn’t matter. He’s gonna pull me out of school either way.”

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