Page 139 of The Perfect Love

Sigh. He’s truly the swooniest guy ever.

As we lie in bed—far more comfortable tonight—he lazily strokes his fingers through my hair. “How are you feeling?”

I swallow and shrug. “Okay, I guess. Hearing them say all that again tonight was hard.”

“You handled it really well. With dignity and grace. You should be proud of that.”

“Thanks. And I am. But…” I bite my lip. “It all kind of hit me at once. They’re right. I am different now. Not in a bad way, necessarily, but not so carefree. In some ways, I miss that girl. Sometimes I wish I could let loose and completely forget about everything I went through, but I can’t. I miss that freedom sometimes—no matter how careless or naive it might’ve been.”

He throws his leg over mine, using it to pull me closer as he tugs at a strand of my hair. “I think it’s natural to grieve who you once were, but it’s also important to remember the things that are more beautiful about who you are now. You are amazing. You inspire me with your strength. You awe me with your grace. And you crack me open with your love. I love this version of you, and I’m so glad I get to be the one by your side.”

Tears trickle down my cheeks.

“I love you.”

“I love you too. In case that wasn’t clear.”

We share a gentle kiss, then I rest my head on his shoulder.

“What are you thinking about?” I whisper.

He sighs. “About what you did tonight. Setting boundaries. Being compassionate but firm. Wishing Hyla could do that. Sheneedsto do that. I’m worried about how things will go with her parents.”

I graze my knuckles over his cheek. “I know you are. But all you can do is stand by her and help where you can. She has to be internally ready to make those decisions. If she’s not, they won’t stick.”

He kisses my forehead. “As usual, you’re right.”

“Duh.”

We share another quick kiss.

“Night, baby.”

“Goodnight.”

His arms close around me, and that warm feeling of safety surrounds me.

Standing up for myself tonight was important, and it felt good. The weight is off me.

I hope Hyla can find the strength to do that too, if for no other reason than she deserves to let go of the mountains she’s trying to carry.

Trevor

Life is unfair.

People are disgustingly cruel.

Hyla has been struggling. I’ve known that. But I didn’t realize how bad things were until after that moment with Mackie at theChristmas party. Until she suddenly had a chaotic need to put everything on the line with her parents and essentially beg them to still love her. That’s what happened tonight. It didn’t go well.

Hyla’s parents pulled out all the shitty stops, and while I’m not surprised by much with them anymore, they even surprised me with their manipulative bullshit. And then I had to watch it break Hyla. It took everything in my power—and the reminder that her father is a state senator—not to beat the shit out of her dad. Hell, not to scream at them about what vile, despicable humans they are.

I made my feelings clear in only a few words and then got Hyla out of their house.

But the damage has been done. And I don’t know what to do now. We’re back at Hyla’s apartment. She doesn’t want me to call my mom. I haven’t even dared touch my phone because I don’t want her to get angry. I’m her last lifeline, and I can’t risk severing that when she’s at the edge. But I can’t stop questioning if I’m doing the right thing.

Maybe we should’ve gone to the mental health unit, but she said she wanted to go home.

I’m scared, and I have no idea how to help her, so I’m just staring at her, and that’s all I’ll be doing tonight, at least until she finally falls asleep too.

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