Page 96 of Mortala
“I’m sorry.”
The words surprise me. Before I can respond, he leans down and kisses me. It isn’t the angry kiss I expect. It’s not an apology meant to silence me. He’s simply reminding me that even when we clash and we don’t understand each other, we’re still us.
The kiss is deep and full of everything he struggles to say out loud. The fear and desperation to keep me safe without realizing that sometimes, protecting me means letting me live.
My hands find his shirt, holding onto him as the tension between us slowly melts away. When he finally pulls back, I’m left breathless, staring up at him.
“You’re right,” he says softly. “I’m sorry.” His thumb brushes against my cheek. “She can stay.”
A small smile tugs at the corner of my mouth.
“But you’re sleeping with me tonight. Do you understand?”
I nod.
He raises an eyebrow. “Your words, Madelyn.”
I can’t help but smile. “Yes, I understand.”
“Good girl.”
That familiar smirk crosses his face, the one that always manages to undo me.
“Now go spend time with your friends. I’ll make you ladies some popcorn.”
His expression softens completely.
“I love you.”
He cups my face with both hands and presses one more kiss to my lips, this one gentle and full of the love he’s trying so hard to show me.
“I love you too, Miles.”
Kaitlin insisted we drink tonight,because what kind of girl’s night would it be without alcohol? We’ve each had two mixed drinks that Kaitlin made and I’m starting to feel a little buzz coming on. I don’t usually drink so it doesn’t take a lot to get me buzzing, and since we’re drinking at home tonight, I didn’t see anything wrong with having a few.
We finished watching Clueless and went straight into Mean Girls. We’re all laughing watching the movie when my phone dings with a new text message. I immediately freeze up, because who else would text me right now? Everyone I talk to is here in this house.
It’s him.
I can’t look at it. If I look at it, it makes it real. I look around the room and see Morgan and Kaitlin still watching the movie, neither of them paying me any attention. I grab my phone from where it sits on the coffee table in front of me and look at it.One new text message from “Unknown” lights up my screen. I swallow nervously and open it.
Unknown: Did you really think you could hide from me much longer, Madelyn? I thought you were smarter than that.
My heart is beating so loudly in my chest I’m sure everyone in the room can hear it. I look back at Morgan and Kaitlin and look around the room nervously, wondering if he’s here, watching me. My phone dings again in my hand and causes me to jump in my seat. Another message.
Unknown: You look so beautiful when you’re scared for your life, Madelyn.
My blood runs cold. The phone slips from my hand and lands in my lap as I stare at the screen, frozen. Then, without thinking, I’m on my feet so fast it feels like the chair beneath me was set on fire.
My phone falls to the floor with a sharp crack. Morgan and Kaitlin both jump, immediately looking at me with concern. They’re saying something, probably asking me what's wrong, but their voices sound distant, like they’re coming from underwater.
I can’t hear them. I can’t hear anything except my own heartbeat pounding violently in my ears.
He’s here.He’s fucking here.
The realization tears through me. I scream for Miles and take off running toward our bedroom. The girls call after me, their voices frantic, but I don’t stop. I don’t even think. I just move.
That motherfucker is here, and he’s here for me. I don’t even make it to the stairs before I slam directly into a solid chest. A scream rips out of me before I can stop it. Strongarms immediately wrap around me, holding me tightly, and the second I realize it’s him, my body gives out.
