Chapter 100
Sierra.
I wake up feeling like I’ve been hit by a truck. Every muscle in my body aches in protest the moment I move. I know I needed the distraction yesterday; that’s why I cleaned, but damn, I’m regretting that decision now. I should’ve just spent the day lazing around, maybe napping or finally catching up on one of the many novels I’ve left half–finished. But no. For some reason, I thought scrubbing floors was a better idea.
Dragging my tired body out of bed, I shuffle to the bathroom for a quick shower, then get dressed and head to the kitchen in search of breakfast.
I pour Blackie her food first, then fix my own plate before sitting down at the table. Thank heavens for the medication Adrian prescribed; at least I can keep most things down now without immediately throwing up.
As I eat, my thoughts start to spiral, coming at me from every direction. Having the twins visit yesterday was the highlight of my day. I know what they did was wrong, sneaking away like that, but it doesn’t change how happy I was to see them. For all their parents‘ faults, those two turned out beautifully.
And then, as if my mind enjoys torturing me, it drifts straight to Noah. I try not to think about him, but it’s useless. No matter how hard I push the thought away, he always finds his way back in. It’s like his name alone is enough to pull me back into that tangled mess of emotions I’ve been trying so hard to escape. 1
Honestly, his reaction was too mild for how I expected him to behave. I thought he’d come here guns blazing, like he always does. I was surprised when he didn’t. But I should’ve known better. That calm exterior? It was fake. He was only holding it together because the twins were here.
The fact that he could think so little of me. That he truly believes I’d use innocent kids for something so vile still makes my blood boil. How could he even think that? Is his ego really that inflated that he thinks my entire existence revolves around making him fall in love with me? 1
I clench the cup in my hand so tightly I’m almost sure it’ll shatter. Taking a few deep breaths, I force myself to calm down. There’s no point in losing my head over an idiot who’s got his head so far up his ass he can’t see daylight.
My phone rings, saving me from spiraling any further.
I glance at the screen and smile before answering. “Hey, Mom p>
“My baby!” she says, her voice bright with joy. “How have you been? Are you okay p>
I chuckle softly, the warmth in her voice chasing away the cold that had settled in me just moments ago.
“I’ve told you a hundred times, I’m fine, Mom. Stop worrying so much p>
She’s called and texted every single day since the incident, worried sick, even though I’ve assured her over and over that I’m fine.
“I know, baby. It’s just p>
I groan, though my lips twitch into a small smile. I’ve been trying to get her to stop calling me baby since I turned fifteen, but she never has. Says I’ll always be her baby. I complain, but truthfully? I love it.
“Just what, Mom p>
“I don’t know…” she says softly, her voice carrying that heaviness I know too well. “My heart’s been uneasy lately. I keep getting this feeling like something bad is going to happen p>
A chill runs down my spine, like a ghost just brushed past me. I try to laugh it off, pushing away the eerie feeling her words stir.
“Mom, I’ll be fine. I just need to stop by the police station about the accident from work, and then I’m coming straight home to sleep p>
“My intuition is never wrong, Sierra,” she whispers, and I can almost picture her now. Her brows drawn tight, one hand absently rubbing her neck.
Maybe it’s because she’s seen so much death in her line of work, but Mom’s intuition has never been wrong. Not once.
“Don’t worry, okay? Nothing’s going to happen,” I tell her, trying to sound more confident than I feel.
“J–just be careful,” she says, her voice trembling slightly. “I don’t know what I’d do if anything ever happened to you p>
I exhale slowly, realizing I’d been holding my breath. “I promise, Mom. I’ll be careful p>
“And call me when you get back home or I’ll come to your house myself to make sure you’re fine,” she warns.
This time, I can’t help but laugh softly, because knowing my mom, she absolutely would.
After we hang up, I finish my breakfast, determined to get this over with. At first, when I remembered those two strange incidents, I wasn’t going to do anything about them. I didn’t think they had anything to do with what happened at work. They didn’t give much off. They were weird, yes, but nothing out of the ordinary. 1