Page 43 of Shattering

She exhaled slowly, closing her eyes as a dull throbbing pain bloomed at the base of her skull.

A migraine.

Great.

She pressed her fingers against her temples, willing the tension to ease, but then—

Her phone vibrated in her pocket.

She didn't need to check the screen.

She already knew who it was.

Slowly, she picked up.

"Cadi..." Gray's voice was rough, strained.

"I just got the email."

Cadi's breath caught.

Her fingers tightened around the phone.

"Have ya opened it?" Gray asked.

"No." Her voice was clipped, controlled.

A beat of silence.

Then—"Can I come to ya?"

Cadi's stomach twisted. She didn't want him in her space, where her anger could wane too easily.

"No."

Another pause.

Then—"I'll meet you at the house."

House.

Not home.

Gray inhaled sharply, but he didn't argue.

"Alright."

Cadi ended the call before either of them could say anything else.

She barely remembered the ride home.

The city blurred past, the buildings, the streets—nothing felt real.

She pulled into the driveway, cutting the engine,bracing herself.

Her lungs burned—she hadn't even realized she had been holding her breath.

The air rushed out of her in a single, shaky exhale, her hands gripping the steering wheel tight enough to turn her knuckles white.

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