FINALS ARE STRESSFUL AND exhausting, but thankfully end in five minutes. Since Dawson found me three nights ago, he hasn’t brought up what he saw. I’ve taken the route of ‘don’t ask, don’t tell’ - so if he doesn’t mention it, I won’t either. I’m just hoping he believed my excuse.
I finish answering the rest of the questions on my fourth, and last, final exam. When I’m done, I bring it to my professor and exit the classroom.
“All done?” Holden questions.
I startle, not expecting him to be standing there. “What are you doing here?”
Fuck. I was hoping to go to Jade’s after class. I’m way too sober.
“Just thought I’d surprise you.” He bends down and kisses me softly.
I hum into it. “I’m glad you did.”
The two of us go out to lunch, enjoying the time we have left together. I pick off a plate of fries. It’s high enough in calories that Holden thinks I’m in recovery, but I can manage to only eat a little without alarming him.
I can’t imagine what life is going to be like not getting to see him every day. We’ve been dating a little over five months now, and he’s become the most important person in my life, by a long shot.
“I have a surprise for you.” He says when we’re done with our food.
“Oh?”
He nods. “I’m coming home with you before I go back to Jersey.”
My face and my mood both light up. “Seriously?!”
Holden chuckles. “Seriously. I cancelled your flight. You drive back with me tomorrow.”
Smiling, I lean over the table and kiss him. “When are you going home?”
He shrugs. “Haven’t decided yet.”
As much as I’ve been dreading going home, this makes it so much easier. I know we’d talked about visiting each other, but we didn’t have any actual plans. Now, with him coming home with me, I feel like it’s the perfect start to summer.
SAYING GOODBYE TO DAWSON, Bree, and Jade was difficult. Bree and I already decided on which day we’ll come back to school, knowing we’ll be rooming together again. Dawson promised he’ll keep in touch through text, and Jade said she wants to come visit me at some point. Though, being as she’s from California, I don’t have much confidence in that happening.
The drive from Maine to Rhode Island is long, but having Holden by my side, I don’t mind it. The two of us play stupid road trip games, almost constantly holding each other’s hand - just making the most of the time we have left together. The thought of being without him lingers in the back of my mind, but I do my best to ignore it.
After six hours, we’re finally close. The only thing I can think of is getting my boyfriend into my bed. Between finals, packing, and saying goodbye to everyone, it’s been too long since we’ve spent hours on end wrapped up in each other.
“Do you know how much I love you?” He asks.
“Almost as much as I love you.” I answer.
He smiles sadly, and the mood changes. “Good. Please remember that.”
I squint my eyes, wondering what in the world he’s talking about.
Is he breaking up with me? Why would he want to come home with me to break up with me? He could have just done that at school.
I look out the window as he slows down and see my mom and John standing outside. “What are they doing here? Where are we?” Looking around, I finally see the sign. Meadows Edge Recovery Center. “No.”
“Kayleigh.” He tries, putting the car in park.
“No.” I repeat firmly. “I want to go home. Take me home.”
A tear slips out and slides down his cheek. “You’re not going home.” He tells me. “I know… about everything. The drugs. The excessive partying. You’re not eating. You’re running off calories you don’t have to burn. You’re basically disappearing right in front of my eyes.”
“I can stop!” I plead. “I’ll stop, I swear! Don’t leave me here!”
“This place is going to give you the help that you need.” He replies with shaky words. “I love you so much. I just want you to get better.”
I swallow, realizing there isn’t anything I can do to get out of this. “No, you don’t. If you loved me, you wouldn’t make me stay here.”
“It’s because I love you that I’m making you stay here.” He says. “I’m going to be staying with your mom and John so I’ll be close and can visit you.”
“Don’t bother.” I sob. “I hate you and I never want to see you again.”
“You don’t mean that.”
“I do. You’re dead to me.”
My words cause physical pain – it’s written all over his face. I don’t take it back though, too angry to care. Without a second look, I get out of the car and slam the door. Pushing past my mom and John, I ignore everyone as I walk over and sit on the bench. Holden gets out of the car, getting my bags from the trunk and handing them to John.
“We’ll see you back at the house.” John tells him.
I stay looking at the ground, until Holden comes and kneels in front of me.
“You may want to give me your locket. You’ll get in a lot of trouble if you try sneaking drugs in there.” He whispers.
I take it off, dropping it onto the ground in between us. He picks it up and slips it into his jacket pocket before kissing my forehead. I won’t look at him.
“I love you, Kayleigh.”
He walks away as my parents come over to lead me inside, and all I can think is one thing.
I hate Holden Rivers.
About the Author
Kelsey Clayton is a 28-year-old mother from a small town in lower Delaware. Born and raised in New Jersey, she discovered her love for writing when she used it as a coping mechanism to get through hard times. Since then, she has been passionately writing novels that make people fall in love with the characters and the storylines. She writes from a mix of personal experience and imagination. As an avid beach lover, her dream is to write an entire book with her feet in the sand.
Connect with Kelsey at:
Website: www.kelseyclayton.com
Facebook: @KelsClayton
Instagram: @Kels_Clayton
Twitter: @Kels_Clayton
More by Kelsey Clayton
Look for the sequel.
Coming Spring 2019
Sleepless November (Sleepless November Saga Book 1) Page 17