Page 51 of A Hurt So Good

“He’s right. You have to stop cutting, Arya.” Tears bite the back of my eyes, but I don’t let them fall. I blink them away and clear my throat.

“I’m working on it.”

“Work harder,” War roars before standing and walking out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I risk it and look over at Harlon to see if he’s as mad as War, but I don’t see the same look in his eyes.

“I really am trying, Har. It’s just … some days are easier than others. Some days, I feel like I’m drowning in life again.”

“Do we make you feel like that?” he asks, sounding concerned.

“No. Of course not. I just have a lot of bad dreams and memories that decide to pop up whenever they feel like it.”

“I get that, but the cutting has to stop, Arya. It isn’t healthy for you.”

“I know. I promise I’m working on it.” And I really am. It’s been a while since I cut last before this one. I’ve been doing better about it, and I think that has something to do with the guys.

“War isn’t going to let this go easily. Neither is Denz when he finds out.”

“I didn’t expect it to with War.”

“Well, Denz is a little like War in that aspect,” he adds.

“You didn’t lose your shit,” I tell him. He shrugs.

“I’m the reasonable one. I understand why you do it, but they don’t. They won’t see it the way we do.” I crawl across the bed and right into Harlon’s open arms. He wraps me up and holds me tightly as I sigh.

“Thank you for understanding at least a little bit.”

“You don’t have to thank me. I told you I’m the reasonable one.”

“That’s what I like most about you, Harlon. You’re not quick to judge.”

“How the hell could I after the life I’ve lived? It’s not my place to judge, but I can’t say the same about my brothers.”

“I’m just glad I have you three,” I say as I yawn and curl into his embrace.

Chapter 22

Denz

I sigh, running my hand over my face. I dealt with the shit with Sasha at school over a week ago, and she seems to be doing better now. So what has me so angry? I don’t fucking know. Maybe the fact that we still don’t know who drugged Arya or why. That shit is still weighing heavily on me. It unnerves me because of how easy it was for them to get to her.

The air is cool tonight as I walk out toward the little bonfire that Arya is at with her friend Tracy. When she told us about it, I debated telling her no, but I knew the little stubborn shit would go anyway, and who the hell am I to tell her that she can’t have a little fun with her friends.

I walk out onto the sand and down the beach to where I see the fire when I spot her. There’s music playing and Arya is dancing with Tracy. She has a smile on her face, and that’s not something you see a lot of with her. It’s good to see her like this.

I stand back and keep an eye out, pulling a cigarette from the pack I keep in my pocket and lighting it up. The tip glows in the darkness, and it’s almost as if she can feel my gaze on her. She turns her head, looking around until she sees me. Her lips tug into a huge grin when she motions for me to come over there. I shake my head and nod toward her friends, letting her know that this is for her, not me. Her smile gets bigger as Tracy grabs her hand and forces her to dance again.

They do this for a long time, drinking and having a good time. I see Cale, but he doesn’t see me. He walks up to Arya andshe turns quickly, hugging him before stepping back. Has she forgotten that I’m over here? Is she drunk?

I watch as he slips his arm around her waist and pulls her in close to him. He whispers something in her ear, and she shakes her head. I wonder what the hell he said to her? She tries to push him away, but he holds on tighter. Now anger surges inside of me as I storm down the beach before I hear her laugh. Yet when I look up, Cale still has his arms around her. She’s smiling and doesn’t seem to be in any kind of trouble, but that doesn’t stop me.

I storm over there and rip her away, grabbing Cale, lifting, and slamming him into the sand.

“What the hell, Denz?” Arya snaps at me, rushing to drop to his side.

“Get the fuck up!” I roar. She looks between me and Cale before standing to her feet and stepping in between me and Cale, offering her hand. “Don’t you fucking do it, Arya.”

“Shut the hell up, Denz,” she snaps at me. Cale refuses to take her hand and brushes it away, shoving himself up. He stands and looks at me before shaking his head.

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