Page 76 of Disorder (Elite of Elmwood 2)

Not tonight.

I dug out my phone, my back sliding down the door until I sat on the floor.

What I wanted was Brock.

But Brock was pretending to date Ava.

Chewing on my nails, I wrestled with the idea to call him, beg him to break me out of this jail. He would come. Once he found out I was no longer at my dad’s, he might very well show up guns blazing, screaming my name. He’d probably burn this place to the ground, which was precisely why I couldn’t call him.

He would do something stupid, irrational, and damaging to his future. That would not be on me. Giving the ideal time to settle couldn’t be a bad thing.

I huffed, dropping my head back against the door. My phone vibrated in my hand a moment later and I glanced at the message.

Grayson:We’re coming to get you.

Me:Don’t bother. She won’t stop.

Grayson:You can’t stay there.

Me:I know.

Grayson:You okay?

Me:Define okay.

Grayson:Brock isn’t going to let you stay there.

Me:It’s my choice.

Grayson:Just don’t do anything stupid. Avoid Carter.

Me:I can’t make any promises.

Grayson:I mean it, Josie.

On a huff, I closed my phone.

Now what?

My gaze panned over the room. It stood exactly the same. Cleaner than I’d left it. Bed neatly made. Not a stitch of clothing thrown on the floor. The bedroom appeared more like a guest room. Nothing of me lived inside, not like my other room.

My chest seized.

Angry tears clouded my eyes.

Before I made a blubbering mess of myself and climbed into the big bed to wallow all day, which I still had plans to do, I made use of the bathroom, one of the very few things about this house worthy of missing. It was spacious and luxurious, with a large white soaking tub that screamed my name.

I drew a bath, and as the water rumbled in rhythm with the ceiling fan, I released the tears. It was stupid, but in a way, it felt as if everything had been taken away from me. Dad. My old life. Brock. My self-respect. Even my mother. How much more could I lose? How much more could they take from me?

Utterly alone.

Utterly hopeless.

Devastatingly broken.

Dipping my toes in the steaming water, I sank into the tub, not bothering to dry my running nose or the tears that streaked down my cheeks. I let the sobs overtake me—let the emotion rip through my body and pouring out from deep in my soul. I stared out the big window overlooking the pool, a beautiful view, but I found no beauty in the world today.

An hour or more went by, and all the bubbles were gone, the water cold. I toweled off, cautious of the bruises covering my body. I stared at my reflection once I got out of the tub, wiping the mirror clear of steam. The girl staring back at me was a stranger.

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