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Chapter 50: Hunter
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HeartLess Chapter 51: Skye
We lie stretched out on oversized towels that Hunter grabbed from the trunk of his car. Other than a few people strolling past us, we have the beach to ourselves. I close my eyes and listen to the sound of the water lapping against the shore and the seagulls crying overhead. The wind slides over my face as the sun's warmth strokes my cheeks. Things that would normally bring me peace aren't enough to mend the tattered fragments of my heart.I will never be whole again.Exhaustion overtakes me, making it difficult to pick up my head or even suck in a breath. I want nothing more than to dissolve into the sand and become nothing. Maybe then everything won't feel quite so painful. The thought of not being able to see Dad or pick up the phone and call him leaves me feeling lost. As if I'm no longer tethered to the earth.I'm not ready for this.I will never be ready to say goodbye.That thought breaks my heart all over again.Hunter shifts next to me and the heat radiating from his b
HeartLess Chapter 52: Hunter
As soon as I step foot in the small lecture hall, I scour the area for Skye, but she remains conspicuously absent. I drop onto my usual seat before slipping my phone from my backpack and firing off a text to Lanie. Since Skye has gone back to avoiding me, I've been getting all my intel from her best friend. Lanie and I are now texting buddies.I set the phone down and drum my fingers on the desk while waiting for a response. It doesn't take long for her to get back to me.Chill out, stalker-boy. She's on her way.She adds an eye-roll emoji. Then a second message rolls in.Good luck.Yeah, I'm going to need it.A few moments after the texts pop up on my screen, Skye rushes through the door before sliding onto her seat next to Jaxon.Now that she's here, I can calm down and focus for the next fifty minutes. Well, that's the plan. Dr. Bennet isn't exactly the most scintillating of public speakers. Throughout the class, my attention wanders, and I find myself glancing over my shou
HeartLess Chapter 53: Skye
At the end of our appointment, Dr. Mestoff grabs a card from the coffee table before scribbling something on the back and handing it to me. The front has her name and contact information."We run several groups on campus for students who are dealing with grief. I wrote down where they meet and the times." She gestures toward the card. "You're welcome to join us and try it out. It's an open group, meaning that people drop in when they're in need of support. Sometimes they share, and other times, they simply listen. It's whatever you're comfortable with."I glance up and meet her soft brown eyes. "You really think this could help?""I do. Feelings of grief can be difficult to deal with, especially alone. Many people find comfort in talking about it with others who are in similar situations. I also understand that not everyone is comfortable meeting and talking in a group setting, which is why one-on-one counseling is available. What's important to know is that Claremont has s
HeartLess Chapter 54: Skye
I suck in a breath as the intensity grows between us. A change in conversation seems to be in order. "Thanks again for making an appointment at the counseling center. It's not something I would have done on my own.""You're welcome. I'm glad it was helpful."His thumb rubs delicate circles against my palm. The caress is distracting, and I feel myself getting lost in his touch. When I realize what's going on, I have to jerk myself out of the haze.I clear my throat and refocus my attention on our conversation instead of the attraction humming below the surface of my skin. "Dr. Mestoff mentioned a grief group they run on campus.""That sounds interesting. Are you going to check it out?""I think so. And I'm going to make another appointment to see her next week." What she helped me realize today is that I can't handle this on my own. Dr. Mestoff has thrown me a lifeline, and I need to grab it with both hands.It's almost a relief when the waitress arrives with our burgers, mil
HeartLess Chapter 55: Hunter
Well...that didn't go as planned. We'd been having a great time before Mason showed up and blew it all to shit.I flick my gaze at the girl sitting quietly next to me as we head back to campus. I have no idea what's going through her head. I'm almost afraid to ask. "Are you okay?""Yeah, I'm fine." She shifts her body toward mine. "I didn't realize that you and Mason weren't talking."My grip tightens around the steering wheel. Even thinking about what my brother did pisses me off. If he's under the impression that some lame-ass apology is going to fix things between us, he's got another thing coming. As far as I'm concerned, there's nothing my brother can do to repair the damage he inflicted."I haven't spoken to him since the car accident." My jaw clenches as I push out the rest. "Not since I found out what he did.""Oh." With her brows furrowed, she turns and stares out the windshield.Fury and resentment bubble up inside me, and I try to tamp it down. "I have nothing t
HeartLess Chapter 56: Skye
"Give it to me straight." Lanie drops down next to me on the couch with a massive bowl of vanilla ice cream with chocolate sauce poured over the top. It's more sauce than ice cream. "How pissed off are you about the counseling appointment? You know how much I hate it when you're angry.""I'm not mad." If anything, I'm grateful my friends care enough about me to seek out support when I'm unable to do it for myself. "It was really helpful. In fact, I've already made another appointment for next week."She shoves the spoon in her mouth before saying, "I'm glad you're going to talk to someone. We've all been really concerned about you.""I'm sorry, I never meant to worry you." I glance down at my fingers. "I was trying to deal with everything the best way I knew how.""Oh, honey." Lanie reaches out and squeezes my hand. "You know how much Jax and I love you. There's nothing we wouldn't do for you." She gives a helpless shrug. "But we weren't sure how to support you.""You're
HeartLess Chapter 57: Hunter
"Great game last weekend, Price!"I flash a quick smile. "Thanks, man.""We're all looking forward to this Saturday's game against Georgia. It's going to be a tough one.""Yup." I tip my head in acknowledgment. "I've been watching a ton of game film.""Good luck, we'll be cheering for you.""Appreciate the support." With that, I pull open the doors to the library and jog up the staircase to the second floor where I'm meeting Skye. There's a definite pep in my step. I can't wait to have her all to myself for a couple of hours. Maybe we're only working at the library, but it doesn't matter. It's enough to be close to her.I'm trying my best to navigate this new relationship with Skye. She needs me to be her friend and that's exactly what I'm trying to give her. Friendship. Instead of being all up in her face, I've pulled back and have been giving her space to breathe. Space to work through her emotions.It sucks. All I want to do is protect her from anything that will cause
HeartLess Chapter 58: Hunter
My breath lodges in my throat as she pulls out the twenty-five-page paper I've been working on in my spare time. It's not like I have a ton of it, but it's funny how much time opens up when you stop playing video games and hanging out with the guys."I don't understand," she mumbles, thumbing through the pages before glancing up at me.Even though I shrug, wanting to play it casual, my heart jackhammers painfully in my chest. It's only now that I wonder if she'll be pissed off. What if she's mad that I wrote it up myself without asking for her input? We've been emailing back and forth, so I was able to take what she sent and synthesized it into a cohesive piece about vaccinations. I also spoke with my childhood pediatrician and got his professional opinion on the matter before emailing a spokesperson from an anti-vax group, the National Vaccine Information Center, along with The World Health Organization who is a proponent for vaccines. In the end, I feel like it's a pretty damn
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