“What’s the real reason?” Uncle Jax asks.
I swear he has a built-in bullshit detector.
I shake my head, not willing to admit my guilt to them. I’m too fucking ashamed.
“Fine,” Uncle Jax mutters. “What do you plan on doing with your life if you’re so fucking intent on not ever seeing again?”
Nothing. Just fucking nothing.
My silence makes Dad grab hold of my shoulders. “Stop this shit, Kao.” His breaths sound angry, and I can’t blame him. I can’t blame any of them for losing their patience with me. “Christ! You still have your whole life ahead of you. Don’t fuck it up like this.”
Needing them to back off, I lie, “I’ll think about it. Okay? I just… I need time to process everything.”
Dad pulls me into a hug, and his voice is raw by my ear, “Please, Kao. If not for yourself, do it for me.”
When Dad pulls back, I turn my head in his direction. “Give me a week.”
By then, I should be able to discharge myself and lock my pathetic ass in a hotel room.
“Just one week?” Dad asks. The hopeful tone in his voice kills what’s left of my spirit.
“Yeah.”Chapter 7FALLONWalking into the suite I share with my friends, it feels empty even though Hana and Hunter are with me.
“Want me to order you something for lunch?” Hunter asks.
The corner of my mouth lifts slightly. I’m so thankful I have such caring friends. “A salmon salad would be nice.”
“On it,” Hunter grins at me while pulling his phone out of his pocket so he can call the order into the restaurant.
“Is Fallon home?” I hear Jade call before she and Mila come rushing down the hallway. The moment they see me, Jade lets out a happy shriek and then wraps me up in a huge hug. “It’s so good to have you back.”
When Jade pulls away and Mila moves closer, wrapping her arms around me, emotion pushes up my throat. We haven’t hugged much since she was attacked, so this means a lot to me.
Mila pulls back and asks, “How do you feel?”
“Better.” The left corner of my mouth lifts a little.
There’s a knock at the door, and Hunter goes to open. He lets out a bark of laughter, and when my mom and Aunt Kingsley come in, I understand why.
A chuckle bubbles over my lips when I see the arrangement of chocolate flowers in Aunt Kingsley’s arms.
They both kiss my left cheek, then Aunt Kingsley holds the gift out to me. “I figured you could do with some comfort food, and seeing as you’re allergic to flowers, I thought this would be a good replacement for the real thing.”
“Thank you so much,” I grin at my aunt. Taking the basket from her, I go to set it down on the kitchen counter.
Mom comes to place a hand on my lower back. “Did you just get back?”
“Yeah,” I nod as I turn to her. “We stopped by Kao’s room before leaving.”
Mom’s eyes settle on the bandages. “Did they clean the cuts before you checked out of the hospital?”
I nod. “I only have to clean them again tomorrow morning.”
“I’ll come over and help.”
I give Mom a thankful smile. “Thanks.”
“Have you all had lunch?” Aunt Kingsley asks.
“Not yet,” Hunter answers his mom. “I was just about to order in for Fallon.”
Aunt Kingsley’s gaze turns to me. “You don’t want to go to the restaurant?”
I shake my head, not yet ready to mingle with the other students.
“Want to give me all the orders, and I’ll call the restaurant?” Hunter asks.
While they’re all busy, I pick up my overnight bag and walk to my room. I stop at my door, and my gaze goes to Kao’s bedroom. Setting the bag down, I walk the short distance, and once I’m inside, I shut his door behind me.
His familiar scent hangs in the air, and I take a deep breath. My eyes scan over his desk where his laptop lies.
My heart squeezes into a tiny lump, and when I see the shirt he wore to classes on Wednesday lying on the side of his bed, I walk closer. Picking it up, I press it to my face, and when I smell him, tears push up my throat.
God, I miss you, Kao.
I still can’t believe how horribly everything has changed over the past three days.
I set the dirty shirt back on the bed and walking to Kao’s closet, my hand brushes over all of his shirts before I pull one out. I walk to the bathroom, and picking up his aftershave bottle, I squirt some onto the fabric and then take it with me.
At least, this way, it will feel like he’s still close by.It’s been a long day with family and friends all taking turns to check on me.
After dressing in a clean pair of jeans and a t-shirt, I make sure my hair covers the dressings on my face and neck before I walk out of my room.