Page 53 of Hidden Truths

I sigh and go to rub my face. Luckily, I stop in time. That would’ve fucking hurt.

“I’ll tell you when I get home tomorrow. I don’t think it should be discussed over the phone,” I tell her. She examines my face and gives me a quick nod.

“Your head, Cal,” she says. I can see how panicked she is. It makes me feel terrible.

“I’m sorry I made you worry, Firecracker,” I say softly. I can’t tell her what happened to my head without telling her everything else. She seems to pick up on that because she doesn’t push.

“Cal,” she says my name, and I can see she’s about to cry. My heart breaks right there. We’re past the point of no return already. There are too many feelings. We mean too much to each other. I can try to avoid her all I want, but it won’t amount to anything. Harlow has wormed her way in somehow.

“Tell me about your day. How is Cora?”

Harlow’s smile is watery, but she goes with my change of subject. “It was good. Cora really loves to stack things.” That makes me chuckle. Her favorite game is to stack her blocks and knock them back down. I wouldn’t be surprised if that’s what Harlow did all day.

“Is she sleeping?”

“Yeah. Once my dad called me and told me that you were all okay, your dad took her to rock her to sleep.”

“Fuck. My dad. I’m such an asshole. I should call him.”

Harlow laughs. “Well, considering he’s probably still rocking your daughter, I wouldn’t.”

“Right.”

“Cal?”

“Yeah?”

“I’m really glad you’re okay.” Harlow’s voice is a whisper.

“Me too, Firecracker.”

“When will you be home?”

“Early afternoon. Earlier if I can get Kai up in the morning.”

Harlow nods. She’s biting her lip like she’s nervous. “Make sure you shower before you come home.”

“Why?” I ask, confused.

“Your face is covered in blood, Cal,” she says, looking like she wants to cry again.

“I’ll go shower right now. You get some sleep. I promise we’ll head straight home.”

“Okay,” she says softly. If I could hug her right now, I would, and I don’t think I could let go.

“Goodnight, Firecracker.”

“Goodnight, Vocal Daddy.”

I laugh as she hangs up.

Only she could make me laugh after watching two brains splatter on walls. The reminder makes me nauseous again.

I carefully clean up in the bathroom and then lay on the bed. I know I won’t be able to sleep tonight.

So instead, I stare at the ceiling and think about the beautiful woman waiting for me at home.

twenty-one

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