I shake my head. “No, I never got close enough to anyone to feel that much for them.” Until now.
I realize right then and there that I’m pretty sure I’m in love with Seth. I should have known the moment I dropped everything and flew back early just to make sure he was okay. It terrifies me, but in a really good way. I open my mouth to tell him so, but my phone rings from inside the apartment somewhere.
“Where the hell did I leave it?” I mutter to myself as I climb off the bed.
I stumble through the room and track the ringing to the hallway, where my phone is lying on the floor. I pick it up and see an unknown number on the screen.
“Hello?” I answer, putting the phone up to my ear as I make my way back into the bedroom.
Seth is lounging on my bed with his arms tucked behind his head, smiling at me contently. I have this overwhelming urge to throw the phone down and scream that I love him.
“Hey, Greyson… It’s Callie. Sorry to bug you… Seth used my phone once to call you and I found the number in my log.” She sounds choked, as if she’s been crying. “I don’t mean to bother you, but Seth won’t answer his phone and I really need to talk to him.” A heart-wrenching sob fills the line.
“Yeah, he’s right here. Hold on.” I quickly hand him the phone and mouth, Callie.
With a pucker at his brow, Seth sits up and takes the phone from me. He talks to Callie for about ten minutes and by the time he hangs up, he looks like he’s ready to throw up.
“What’s wrong?” I ask as he sets my phone down on the nightstand.
“It’s Kayden…” Shock is frozen on his face. “He was stabbed this weekend. He’s okay, but he’s been admitted to the hospital.”
“What?” I haven’t actually met Kayden, but I’ve gathered from conversations with Seth that Callie really cares about him. “Who the hell stabbed him?"
“I don’t know yet, but Callie thinks it might have been his dad,” he whispers. “God, Callie told me that Kayden’s father was abusive, but I never thought…” His fingers tremble as he balls his hands into fists. “Why do parents have to be so fucked up sometimes?”
“Not all parents are.” I reach around and pull him in for a hug. “It’s going to be okay.”
“I just worry about Callie. She never really breaks down, you know. She just stuffs her emotions until she loses it completely.” He inhales and exhales against my chest, trying to pull it together. “I think I need to go there... she shouldn’t be alone.”
“We can drive out there if you want… I can go with you, too.”
“Thank you.” The pressure of the last few days becomes too much, causing him to crack, and tears fall from his eyes, dripping onto my shoulder.
Feeling helpless, I do the only thing I can and hold onto him with everything I have in me.
Chapter 14
Greyson
We drove out to be with Callie and to try to see Kayden, but his family wouldn’t let anyone in and we ended up going back to the campus. Still, spending time on the road with Seth was nice, even if the trip was for a really depressing reason.
A few weeks pass by and everything seems to be going okay, at least with Seth and me. He’s even gotten comfortable enough to occasionally hold my hand in public. I didn’t fully grasp how much it bothered me that we couldn’t show we’re together until he finally decided that he wanted to.
We’ve reached this nice, comfortable zone of going to school and hanging out. I even got to meet Callie and have been spending a lot of time with her and Seth. The poor girl is completely heartbroken over Kayden. Not only is he still back in his hometown, but he’s locked up in a facility because his father told the police that the knife wound to his side was self-inflicted. Apparently, Kayden’s been struggling with cutting for a while, so the police believed his father.
“So, what’re your plans for Christmas?” Jenna asks as we walk out of the classroom.
It’s my last class before winter break begins, and even though I don’t hate school, I’m stoked over getting a break. Seth and I are going to spend tonight packing since our flight is tomorrow morning. I’m excited that he’s coming with me. I just hope my parents don’t overwhelm him.
I sling my bag over my shoulder. “I’m actually going back home with Seth.”
“Wow, you guys are getting serious, aren’t you?” Jenna says, putting her purple hair into a side braid.
“Yeah, I guess we are.” I flatten my palm against the exit door, push it open, and enter the winter storm taking over most of the campus yard. “Actually… I… never mind.”
She whirls in front of me, grabbing my arms for support when she almost eats it on the ice. “No way! You have to finish what you were saying.”
“It’s not that big a deal.”
“Yeah, it is. I can tell by the look on your face.”
I sigh, drawing my hood over my head. “I was just going to say that I think I’m going to tell Seth I love him while we’re in Florida. Out on the beach, maybe at sunset.”
“Aw, my Greyson is such a sap.” She grins at me as she presses her hand to her chest. “But it’s sweet… God, I miss that.”
“Miss what?”
“The act of falling in love.” Her eyes light up. “That should totally be the name of my next exhibit.”
“But you’re already in love with Ari.” I make a right toward the parking lot, where I’m supposed to meet Seth by his car.
She follows me, making a path around a tree. “I know, but I think I’ll make it a goal this holiday to re-fall in love with him.” Spotting Ari near one of the benches, she gives me a quick kiss on the cheek and skips off toward him. “Wish me luck!”
“Good luck!’ I call out then pick up the pace when I see Seth’s at his car already, leaning against the hood, waiting for me.
My heart rate quickens as I near him, but the closer I get, the more aware I am that Seth doesn’t appear all that happy.
“I have some bad news,” he says when I reach him. “I can’t go home with you for break.”
My good mood crashes. “Why not?”
He motions for me to get into the car. “I’ll explain after we get out of the God-awful snow storm.” He scowls at the sky then climbs into the car.
I hop in, and he revs the engine before cranking up the heater.