Page 2 of The Scars of Us

He sighed as he pressed his screen again and put the phone back to his ear. “Sorry, Mom, she already left for work,” he lied.

I mouthed, “Thank you.”

Rolling his eyes, he turned and went back down the hallway as he made small talk with our mom. Following after him, I decided to get ready for work. I almost ran into him when he abruptly stopped in the corridor right before his door.

“What?” he gritted into the phone, his whole body tensing in anger.

I scooted around to face him, locking eyes with his narrowed, enraged ones. His nostrils flared as he inhaled deeply before seething, “You can’t be serious.”

“What?” I mouthed anxiously. My heart raced, my anxiety peeking from beneath my walls in anticipation of what my mother was telling Kamden.

Jaw clenched, he shook his head.

Shit, this must be bad. Breathe, Kaiya, breathe. You’re safe, you’re with Kamden—he won’t let anything happen to you.

Hanging up the phone without another word, he clutched the device in his shaking hand.

“Kam, you’re scaring me. What’s wrong?”

He blew out a breath of frustration as he ran his free hand over his buzzed head. “You should sit down for this, Ky.”

My pulse pounded ferociously under my skin, my blood thrumming through my veins with fear. “What is it, Kamden?”

“Ky, I really think you sh—”

“Tell me, Kamden!” I shrieked, beginning my spiral out of control. My thoughts turned to the darkest of places, to where my nightmares were rooted.Please no, please don’t let it be him.

Kamden sighed before stating, “Kaleb is being evaluated for release.”

No… no, no, no!

Tears poured in rivulets down my cheeks as my lungs seized, my breath leaving me instantaneously at the sound of his name. My legs gave out as my stomach roiled, and my vision blurred. Kamden caught me before I crashed to the floor, and then blackness descended on me.

Light slapping on my cheek roused me from darkness. My eyes fluttered open to Kamden, whose face was creased in concern. His blue-gray eyes locked on mine before he sighed in relief. “Don’t scare me like that.”

“I didn’t plan to pass out,” I retorted as I sat up. I shut my eyes tight and pressed my fingers on the bridge of my nose as dizziness spread over me..

Kamden gave me some space, scooting over closer to the edge of my bed. “I told you to sit down, but you’re so stubborn.”

I scoffed as I rolled my eyes, not acknowledging his comment otherwise. He was right, but I wasn’t going to admit that.

Noticing I was in my bed, I scrunched my face in confusion as I asked, “How long was I out?”

“Not long. Ten minutes, maybe.”

I glanced at the clock, my stomach dropping at the sight of the time.Oh shit, I have to get ready for work!

“Don’t even think about it, Ky. I already called your boss and let him know that you’re taking a sick day.”

“But—” I attempted to argue.

Kamden moved closer to me on the bed. “No buts. You need to rest. You’re in no condition to do anything after that incident. Plus, you haven’t been sleeping well either. Your boss said that you could work on your projects from home today.” His tone was stern, but nurturing, the concern in his voice evident.

“I’m fine, Kam. Really, I am,” I said, attempting to get out of staying at home with my thoughts all day, especially following the bomb that had been dropped on me.

Kamden gave me a knowing look as he replied, “We need to talk about this, Kaiya. You can’t just avoid everything all the time. It’s not healthy.” Averting his eyes, I concentrated on a stitch of fabric on my comforter as I picked at it.He knows me too well.

“I can’t,” I whispered as tears began to surface.

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