Page 75 of Wicked Nasty

Daniel

Power Over Me

Ijoltawake,myhead throbbing and my stomach twisted in knots. As I struggle to sit up, my surroundings slowly come into focus: I'm at Kaiden's house.

But wait... wasn't I at Ryan's place last night? Memories rush back to me in a nauseating wave, and before I can even comprehend what's happening, I'm throwing up everything I drank the night before. My heart feels like it's been ripped out of my chest and shattered into a million pieces.

A shuffling noise interrupts my misery, and I look up to see Kaiden standing at the door. "Done yet?" he asks with a hint of annoyance.

I groan as I lean against the toilet bowl. "Just fuck off, man."

Ignoring my request, Kaiden walks into the bathroom and perches himself on the counter. "Listen, dude," he starts, eyeing me sympathetically. "I know you're hurting. But you can't keep doing this to yourself."

I glare up at him through teary eyes. "You don't understand, Kaiden. I lost a baby. A baby I never thought I wanted until it was gone. And now it's too late." My voice cracks as I collapse onto the floor, sobbing uncontrollably. "It's not fair. My sister, the baby, Becca... everyone I care about is just gone."

Kaiden sits down next to me, his arm draped over my shoulder in a rare display of comfort. "It's going to be okay," he assures me in a gentle tone. "We're here for you."

"But Becca..." I hiccup, struggling to catch my breath between sobs. "I love her, Kaiden. I really do. But she wants nothing to do with me."

He nods knowingly. "Because of how you treated her," he says. "I get it, man. I did the same thing to Cat. But you know what?"

Sniffling, I look up at him with watery eyes. "What...?"

"You can win her back," Kaiden declares confidently. "And that's exactly what we're going to do."

"How?" I choke out, feeling utterly lost and broken. "How do I come back from something like this? Becca doesn't let anyone in. I had a tiny piece of her heart and I threw it away."

Kaiden grins mischievously. "Just keep showing her you care. Force her to see your feelings. But you have to open up to her too."

I let out a heavy sigh, my mind racing with doubts and fears. "I don't know if I can do that," I admit, feeling overwhelmed by the weight of my own darkness. "I... I can be rough with her sometimes."

"But she likes it?" Kaiden asks knowingly.

I nod sheepishly, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"Then don't worry about it," he reassures me with a shrug. "Just focus on winning her back, man." He claps me on the back before adding, "Now take a fucking shower, you reek."

As we both stand up, I pull him into a tight hug. "Thanks, man," I whisper gratefully.

"Always got your back," Kaiden replies with a small smile, his loyalty never wavering even in the darkest of times.

I turn the shower on and step into the small, tiled cubicle, shivering as the icy water pours over me and washes away any lingering traces of sleep. Despite the frigid temperature, I stand under the stream for a few moments, letting it jolt my senses awake. Once I'm fully alert, I quickly lather up with soap and shampoo, relishing in the warmth that seeps into my skin.

After toweling off and throwing on my sweats that Kaiden had left in his bathroom for me, I make my way down the stairs to his kitchen. The smell of freshly brewed coffee fills the air and Cat lounges on the counter next to Kaiden, her smile bright and loving. Both of them greet me with bright smiles as I enter.

Saying goodbye to both of them, I head out to my car and drive back home, feeling refreshed and grateful for the brief escape from the reality that Kaiden's company provided.

Home.

Trembling hands grip the steering wheel as I pull into my childhood driveway. My heart races, knowing that Becca won't be there, and it feels strange to say. But despite the pain and confusion swirling inside me, I know I need to go. I need to see my parents, my sister - my family more than ever right now.

As I enter the familiar living room, my eyes fall on my parents and Delilah seated on the couch. My dad looks up at me with concern etched on his face. "Everything okay?"

I take a deep breath, ready to finally open up and share everything I've been holding back for so long. "No, dad. It's not. I haven't been okay for a while now. Daisy's death has been really fucking hard."

My mom's eyes glisten with tears as she nods in understanding. "I know, sweetie."

"But it's more than that. In my own messed up way... I love Becca," I choke out, feeling my throat tighten with emotion. "And I messed up. I was wicked nasty to her. An asshole. Everything you would hate your son to be..." A lump forms in my throat as I continue speaking, memories of hurtful words and actions flooding my mind. "And all this time, deep down, I wanted that baby. But I was so fucking mean, telling her it wasn't mine..."

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