Page 45 of Only When We Fall

He turns to face me, and he’s got that look in his eye, the one I hate from before that makes him look too confident. “It wasn’t me.”

“But you knew about it?” He stuffs his hands in his pockets, suddenly looking less sure of himself. “Kai?” I demand.

“I knew after, yeah.”

“I didn’t want that,” I snap.

“He needed to know what he did wasn’t okay.”

“Who decided that?” I cry. “And who else did you tell?”

“Just Noah. And Zara.”

“Phone,” I snap, holding out my hand. I’d freely handed it over when I arrived at Kai’s so he could monitor my messages. I wasn’t able to deal with Landon.

Kai reluctantly hands it over. “I didn’t ask you to tell anyone else. It was my business.”

“Okay, I’m sorry. But Noah warned me about him, and I was just letting him know he was right. And Zara, well, she was out of her mind with worry once I explained to her what Landon had been saying. She needed to know I’d found you and you were okay.”

“What had Landon been saying?”

Kai looks away. “It doesn’t matter.”

“It does to me.”

He hesitates, then says quietly, “He saw the video. The one from home.”

My stomach drops. I feel like I’ve been punched. “H-how?”

“He must’ve found it online.”

“Oh my God.” I press my hands to my head, my pulse racing, breath shallow.

Kai steps closer, his voice low. “It’s why he wanted you, Em. He saw the video, and he liked what he saw.”

I type a text on my phone to Zara.

Me: Are you home?

Her reply is instant.

Zara: Yes x

I head in that direction. “Where are you going?” Kai calls, rushing after me.

“Home,” I snap.

By the time we get there I’m out of breath, but secretly glad Kai followed me, because if Landon is here, I don’t know what I’ll do.I find Zara in the lounge eating noodles. The second she sees me she sets them down and wraps her arms around me. “I’m so glad you’re okay.”

“Is Landon home?” I ask, glancing around like he’ll suddenly jump out. She frowns, looking past me to where Kai is. “What?” I ask, warily.

“Didn’t you tell her?” she asks him. “Landon decided to move out.”

“And go where?”

She shrugs. “Do you really care? I’m glad he’s gone. I didn’t feel safe after what he did.”

“We just saw him. He’s all beat up.”

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