Page 51 of Be My Compass

“Hello?” I breathe. “Kae?”

“Kastle.” She sounds tired. Off.

My heart pumps faster and I rush out to the hallway to wait for the elevator. “What’s wrong? Where are you?”

“At Luc’s cafe.”

“Weren’t we having dinner with your parents?”

She hesitates. “I… needed air.”

Those three words punch me in the gut.

I’m the one who says that.

When Kaelyn does…

“What happened?” I slam my finger against the elevator again.

It’s not moving fast enough.

Damn.

I turn around and dash for the emergency staircase.

She still hasn’t answered.

“Kaelyn.”

“It was nothing.”

“Tell me.”

“I had a small panic attack. A really small one.”

I grit my teeth. “What triggered it? Did someone—”

“No. I was just a little tired. That’s why I overreacted.”

I start running and I don’t stop until I’m inside my car. “It’s not an overreaction. Your feelings are real and valid.” I slam my foot against the gas pedal and floor it.

The truck takes off, speeding down the highway.

My mind fills with Kaelyn.

My heart aches like someone took a sledgehammer to it.

When my best friend hurts, I freaking bleed.

“Why didn’t you stay with your parents?”

She hesitates. “They mean well, but they…”

“Can’t help you?”

“They want to. So desperately. And that’s what kills me. I wish I wasn’t this burden to them. I hate myself for making them worry.”

“It’s not your fault. Or theirs. It’s the bastards who took you.” My fingers tighten on the steering wheel. I swear if those jerks weren’t already behind bars, I would have sent them straight to hell with my bare hands.

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