Page 20 of Consume Me

I scoff the moment I hear the door creaking open again.

“You know Dane is a volatile asshole. I would sleep with one eye open. You made Abi cry,” Kaden says.

“Is this a fucking intervention? Just stay the fuck away from me. It shouldn’t be too hard.”

He flinches and looks the other way. I see the vein pulsing in his neck. We always resorted to fighting when it would get to be too much for either of us.

“You held back. Was anything real?”

“Fuck you, Kaden.”

“So he does have feelings.” He leans against the wall. “What motivated you to come back?”

“I was done having your sorry ass chasing me around.”

“Sure. God forbid you give me a few days to come to terms with all the fucked up shit that happened. I found out my brother and best friend went behind my back, used my woman to play them, and then, amid all the chaos, he left.”

“You made it clear you didn’t want me here.”

“And when the fuck have you listened to me before?” he yells.

Touché. But we lived by a code. We would die for each other. I thought that implied loyalty.

“Kaden, go find Celine. Enjoy your life, and leave me the fuck alone. You did it once.”

“You’re bitter. Because I love you, I don’t want you ever to go through that fear of losing your other half.”

“You thought I betrayed you. Right then and there, we became nothing.”

“So you’re not my friend anymore?”

“According to you, I never was.”

“Why are you here?”

“I have some shit to take care of. Then I’m gone. Do us both a favor and don’t search for me when I leave next time.”

I sidestep him, and he says, “I can’t do that.”

“Learn how to. It shouldn’t be that hard.”

“Are you fucking for real right now? You turn this on me?” he asks, voice ringing with incredulity.

“The talk is over.”

“Blake.”

“I don’t listen to you.”

“You listen to Cassandra. I could see your bond… everyone could.”

“We’re done here,” I say and storm out. His accusation doesn’t taunt me. It leaves me numb.

Taking the stairs two at a time, I see Bailey leaning against her door.

She opens hers, inviting me in. With her laptop open, I jerk my chin toward it and ask, “What are you up to?”

“Cassandra wants me to digitize everything.”

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