Page 63 of Hiding Secrets

“I understand.” I reply, holding myself in my arms, picking at my skin. “I’ll tell them.”

Like clockwork, Kameron’s voice booms down the hallway, “Ooooh gorgeous, I am baaaaack!” He pushes the door open swiftly, “Did you miss me?” He wags his brows as his eyes land on me with a wide, perfect smile.

The smile quickly fades as he sees Raf and I on the bed, my hands holding myself and my cheeks still wet from the tears. He rushes to the bedside, “Woah, woah, what’s going on?” his stare snaps to me and then to Raf.

“Elliott, would you like me to leave so you both can talk alone?”

I give him a nod and he squeezes my shoulder for confidence before leaving Kameron and I alone.

“El, what’s going on?”

I look away from him, the knot in my stomach sinks low, “I hurt myself again.” My words stumble out as fresh hot tears develop in my eyes.

“Hurt yourself?” he asks and his confusion only adds to the guilt. “What do you mean?” He tries to get me to look at him but I can’t. I tug away, ashamed of myself for being this way. For having to be another thing he has to worry about.

I take a deep breath and wipe my cheeks dry. I keep my eyes on the window, “Remember when we were in the bathroom together? By Samuel’s office? When you asked me who gave me those scars on my legs and I told you they were from me?” I don’t wait for a response, “I did it again.”

“Ell–”

“It’s stupid, I know!” I drop my face into my hands, “I just can’t stop the voice in my head that tells me I deserve it.”

“You deserve it?” He pulls my face out of my hands, bending low to make eye contact with me, “You don’t deserve that, Elliott. You didn’t deserve anything you went through, how they treated you, what they made you believe in.”

A cry breaks from my throat, “Rationally I know that’s true, but I can’t help but think that I do.” He wipes the tears from my cheeks despite his expression reflecting the pain this is causing him. “There’s a lot in me that is broken, Kam.” I shake my head in his hands, “You shouldn’t have to cut yourself on my broken pieces. You don’t have to bleed for me.”

“I would let all the blood drain from my body if it meant you were safe and happy.”

“Kameron.”

“Shhh,” he places a finger on my lips, “my heart, my choice.” He gives me a weak smile, “I get to fall in love with you if that’s what my heart wants, no matter the amount of nicks and cuts I get from helping you heal. Will you let me fall?”

“I don’t want to keep worrying you.”

“Well, I want to keep worrying over you. I would worry regardless because that’s what happens when you care for someone. You worry about them even when there’s nothing to worry about.”

“You know what I mean.”

“Stop worrying about me worrying. Let me sit here in your pain with you. I’ll hold the glue and you tell me where we need each piece to go to put it all back together, okay?”

He means every word he’s saying, I can see it in his eyes and it makes my wounded heart beat with a warmth I can’t explain. He’s told me so many times that he wanted this, me, us. He wants me to be happy even if it means he’s here for the ugly parts of me.

“You don’t look at me differently?” I shut my eyes, hearing how fucking desperate I am for the validation.

“Oh gorgeous,” He pulls me closer to his face, his lips grazing mine, “Never.” he whispers on my lips and my heart blooms from the reassurance. He lets his mouth press onto mine and I welcome the gentleness of his kiss.

“Did Doctor Rafael De Luca fix you up, princess?” Marcus’s voice cuts through the moment.

“Uh–yeah.” I say as Kameron pulls away slowly from me, a change in his expression causes my body to shiver.

“You knew about this?” Kam stands from the bed.

“Yeah, who do you think found her?”

“Found who where?” Hunter comes in behind Marcus.

“Flores found Elliott bleeding on the floor. That’s why Raf was missing from the meeting.”

“Bleeding where?” Hunter’s voice turns lethal.

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