Page 83 of We Can't Be Friends

He can’t know.No one knows.

I take a deep breath.

“I’m here now.” We keep walking, our pace slowing. “You don’t have to do this alone, I promise. Anytime you need a break, let me know, I’ll hang out with him. I’ve already missed out on most of his life, and I don’t want to anymore.”

“I have a nanny.”

“I don’t care,” I say, giving Miller my typical Chloe sass. “She deserves some off time too.”

He rolls his eyes—the typical response to my Chloe-ism.

“Okay, Chlo.”

“Now about the bloodsucker.” Miller chuckles, asking if I’m referring to the mother of his child. I nod. “That boy deserves more than a guest appearance in his life.” Yes, I know the irony of me not being present, but it’s different; I’ve never explicitly chosen to be out of his life or give him up. “She didn’t want to stick around; that was her decision, not yours. Next time she comes knocking, you tell her no. And if she doesn’t listen, I’ll give her something to send her running. She’s always been afraid of my bite anyway.”

“That’s his mom. I can’t say no.”

“You can, Miller. She doesn’t deserve your kindness, so I don’t know why you keep showing it to her. You wouldn’t be as exhausted if you didn’t have to deal with her drama. Tell her to fuck off, or I will.” Miller goes to open his mouth. “And let’s start working on finding Riley anewmom. Someone who loves and wants you both.”

Miller throws his arm around my shoulders, pulling me into him and dropping a kiss to the top of my head. “God, you are protective.”

I don’t know how to not be, not after Aaron.

24

CALLUM

“No. No. No!”

I jolt awake at the sound of screaming. Chloe’s raspy voice is piercing, cutting through the walls that separate us.

She screams again.

Jumping out of my bed, I don’t even care that I only have briefs on when I rush to her room. Throwing open my door, opening hers faster.

Tucker is curled up next to her, a paw safely on her as if. . . as if this happens and he’s used to it.

She screams out again. Her body convulsing, thrashing as if she’s trying to get away. “Get off me. I can’t leave. I can’t leave him.”

Tucker senses my presence. Big, human-like eyes beating into mine. Jumping from the bed, he nudges my thigh, pushing me to her. The bed dips under my weight, shifting as I crawl to her. A soft glow from the moon is coming through her opened window, spotlighting the sweat coating her face.

I try to wake her, shaking her shoulder but nothing happens.

Her body calms for a moment, then shakes again. Her skin is freezing as if she’s outside in the dead of winter.

“Chloe,” I say quietly. Nothing. “Chloe.” Nothing.

I lay on my side, dragging her into my chest, wrapping my arms around her. “Dais, wake up,” I say loudly and sternly. Her shaking subsides.

The softest whimper comes from her chattering lips.

Watching her jerky movements and breathing subside, I fear that whatever this nightmare is, it's something she lived through. Her movements are muscle memory.

I squeeze her.

Chloe’s breathing evens out, and her heart rate decreases.

Fluttering, her eyes open. “Aaron?”

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