Page 25 of Say You Won't Let Go
My bus is trashed.
Things are strewn around the room. Papers and my clothes are everywhere. The roses are on the floor, smashed amongst the shards from the broken vase. I move forward, assessing the damage, and there’s another note taped to the window, cut-out magazine letters glued haphazardly into a single sentence:You’re playing a dangerous game.
My heart races as I dart off the bus. Someone was on my bus. Someone went through my clothes.
I’m going to be sick. Bile climbs my throat as I struggle to catch my breath. What the hell am I going to do?
With my back against the bus, I squeeze my eyes closed and try to focus on breathing. I need to calm down, but I can’t get the image of that note out of my head.
A hand touches my shoulder, and I scream. “No!”
“Em!” Cooper’s voice is full of concern. “What’s wrong?”
There’s no stopping the emotions that explode from me. I burst out in tears and fling myself in his arms.
He holds me and tries to soothe me as I quiver and cry. It’s no use, though. I’m too terrified to even get an explanation out. The notes and flowers were one thing, but that person getting on my bus is a whole other level of scary.
“Hey, talk to me,” he encourages.
I swallow and know there’s no way I can keep this from him anymore. “I’ve been getting letters and then—”
“Letters?” Cooper stiffens.
“M-my bus—” I start but then gesture to the closed door, unable to actually say it.
Cooper’s eyes meet mine, and I see the shift happen. He releases me but takes my hand in his.
“I’m not letting go of you. I just need to see what happened.”
Numbly, I nod, but I look at my feet, not wanting him to see my worry.
Cooper lifts my chin and waits until I look at him to speak. “I won’t let anything happen to you, Emily. Trust me.”
I nod again.
Holding on to him, I let him lead me back into the bus. His fingers tighten when he takes in the scene. “What the fuck?” Cooper’s eyes are wide and anger vibrates off him. “How the hell did anyone get on your bus? How long have you been getting these letters, Emily?”
“I…it was…I don’t k-know. It just started.” I believed it was trivial, but it clearly wasn’t. What if he had been in the bus when I got here? What if he had a weapon? So many things could’ve happened, and I thought it was just a stupid prank.
“Show me the other letters,” he says through gritted teeth.
I walk back to the bedroom area, careful not to touch anything, and tears fall when I see my drawers open. My clothing is all over the bed, and I struggle to keep upright. I feel violated, and I want to go home.
Cooper’s arms wrap around me, and he holds me as I lose it. My tears soak his shirt as I clutch him tight. I was so stupid thinking it was nothing. This…is not nothing. This is crazy.
“It’ll be okay, baby,” Cooper reassures me as he rubs my back. “Don’t cry. You’re going to be okay.”
I look up through my wet lashes and see the promise in his eyes. “I’m scared.”
“I know.”
“I was so stupid,” I admit.
Cooper shakes his head and sighs. “Did you think this was going to happen?”
“No.”
I didn’t think this was real. My dumb ass thought it was maybe some new girl joke or just part of the gig.
