“Okay, I’m leaving.”
There’s a note of finality in her voice. I know a loss when I see one. And I can walk away. But that doesn’t mean I’ll bestayingaway. Now that I’ve found her, she’s not going to get rid of me that easily. I have a lot of regrets in life, but not being good enough for her is at the top of the list in big red bolded letters.
As I walk out I notice the name of the bakery.Sunny’s Sweets.
I can’t help the ridiculous grin that finds me. She kept the nickname, and that gives me a tiny, unwarranted flicker of hope. I can fix this.
Chapter 6
Sean
BythetimeImake it home, the pain in my back has turned me numb. At this point, I’m not sure if my seat warmer is malfunctioning or if I am just bleeding for fun. I’m too afraid to check. I lean my head against the headrest and close my eyes remembering a night over seven years ago. A beautiful girl, in a purple dress. My brother.
I pry my eyelids open, even though I just want to stay here and sleep.
The stairs to Trent’s and my apartment are steeper than they’ve ever been. I open the door and pull at my shirt. It’s stuck to my skin with all the dried blood and each tug hurts.
Just like a Band-Aid.I rip the shirt off. And a fresh wave of pain blinds me. I grab a wall to steady myself. Fake pine needles poke my arm and I stagger back. I might be hallucinating because that Christmas tree was not there when I left this morning.
“Sean!” Trent yells. “What the heck?”
I lift my head, stars swirl around the room, but I eventually find him on the couch with Karli. “You guys decorated a tree without me? How ru—” The ground swirls beneath me.
What was I saying?
I stumble into the living room. I’m about to fall into a chair when Trent grabs me by both arms and holds me up. “You’re bleeding.”
“Still?” I turn, trying to see my back. It doesn’t work. But it sure makes me nauseous. “I might also have a concussion.”
“Let’s hope not, I’m not sure your brain can afford another one,” Trent mutters and helps me into the kitchen.
Awe, what a sweet brother. He’s going to take care of me.
“Here,” he shoves a towel at my chest. “Put some pressure on it.”
I frown. “Are you still mad I kidnapped you?” I did it out of love. Mostly.
“Trent?” Karli says from behind me. “He needs help.”
Trent doesn’t move.
Karli takes the rag from me and presses it to my back. Her fingernails tickle and I giggle.
Trent scowls, the jealousy rolling off him in waves. But that is one line I will never cross, even ifhedid once upon a time. With a beautiful girl, in a purple dress. My Sunny.
“I’ll take care of him.” Trent sighs and steps between his girlfriend and me.
“About time, brother.”
He presses the towel to my back with more force than Karli used.
I arch, trying to get away from him.
Karli hands me a glass of water and I drain the whole thing. “Thanks, sweetheart.”
Trent pulls the towel away and what feels like half my skin.
“Ow!”
