Breaking Midnight (Il Paradosso Series Book One)

Chapter thirty

When the clock struck midnight, I felt a pair of warm arms wrap around my shoulders from behind me.

"Happy New Years, baby."

I leaned against Kenny's chest when he planted a tiny kiss on my cheek, hoping he wouldn't feel the dampness. My heart weighed heavy like a ton of bricks had landed on it as I pulled his arms tighter around me.

Hours had gone by and there was still no sign of Antonio. I didn't return to the mansion, spending the night with my three friends, whom had accepted me with open arms after noticing the fragile state that I was in.

I snuggled under the duvet in a pair of Kenny's pajamas that he had lent me, listening to his breathing as he was beginning to drift away to sleep. He hadn't needed to ask me any questions to know that I was a terrible mess, which was evident from the tears that were soaking through his cotton sleeves.

"You're the strongest person I know, and whatever you're going through, I have no doubt you'll pull through like a champ," he whispered into my forehead, half-awake.

I wished that I could tell him everything but his happiness meant too much for me to ruin it with a simple act of selfishness.

"I don't know, Kenny; it's just that... sometimes he confuses me. It's like one moment he's hot, and then he's cold and distant again." I sniffled, wiping a tear that had fallen on the bridge of my nose.

And right now, he feels miles away.

"I know, baby, I know. He scares the shit out of me too," he said with a half-hearted laugh. "But this too shall pass. I'll always be here for you, whenever you need me. You know that, right?"

"What would I do without you, Kenny?" I whispered, drawing the cover to my neck.

"I don't know, bitch. It's four in the morning so go to fucking sleep."
I closed my eyelids, allowing my mind to cross over.


***

I squinted, trying to avoid the blinding light coming through the window and buried my head into the soft pillow, not wanting to face the day ahead of me.

My head felt like a set of drums were banging over it. Nonetheless, I dragged myself out of bed to the toilet, on a mission to relieve the excruciating pressure from my pelvis.

After washing my face and brushing my teeth with one of Kenny's spare brushes, I dragged my lazy ass down the stairs, stumbling on the last one and nearly falling flat on my face.
And what a day it would be.

"Remind me to never get fucked up again like last night," Kenny grunted from the leather sofa he was sprawled out on, holding a wet rag over his eyes.

"Well, you were the one urging us to "drink up bitches" and now you're the one complaining that you can't handle the aftermath," Emma yelled, her voice coming from the kitchen where I was headed.

Grabbing a cup of coffee, I popped up on one of the counter stools, watching her delicate figure as she moved around the stove, cracking two eggs into the frying pan.

"Breakfast," I hummed, resting my chin in my palms.

She turned to face me with a smile.