"What happens when the person you thought you could trust turns into a full blown nightmare... Will you ever be able to heal from the damage? Will life ever be the same again? Well, does love even exist?"
Taylor and Joe have been in a relationship f...
It's almost nine in the morning when I feel Hailey climbing into my bed and cuddling up to me. My Mom bought her a new bed while I was away from home, one she can get out of on her own.
"Mommy wakey." The girl chimes, peppering my face with kisses until my eyes blink open, a yawn leaving my mouth.
"Good morning, princess." I mumble groggily, opening my arms for her to nestle into before glancing to the side and realizing that Travis is no longer next to me. Instead I spot a note on his pillow, instantly recognizing his handwriting, quickly skimming over the text. Then I remember our argument and my mood shifts. However, I don't feel as irritated as last night, thinking I might have overreacted a little.
"You wanna get up?" I draw my attention back the the child in my arms, who nods eagerly and moves out of my light grip, cautiously climbing out of bed. "Wait by the stairs, I'll be right there." I let her know and watch her waddle out the room.
The next thing I do is open the blinds and windows to let some fresh air in after forcing myself out of the sheets. The sky is grey, clouds looking like some rain might pour out of them soon.
"Well done." I praise Hailey when I approach her waiting on top of the stairs so I can hold her hand while walking down because stairs are something she still struggles with according to my mother. Apparently the toddler had a few minor falls so I grab her tiny hand and help her down.
"Go play with Olivia, okay?" I point to the cat relaxing on the sofa once we reach the living room. "I'll make you some breakfast."
"Thank you, Mommy." The blonde smiles, letting go of my hand and dashing towards the cat that doesn't seem too amused by the girl's excitement, though she endures it.
A few seconds later I find myself in the kitchen preparing some breakfast for my daughter.
"You want cornflakes?" I call out, already holding the packaging in my hands.
"Yes!" Hailey shouts back and I fill a bowl before adding some milk as I feel my own stomach grumbling, clearly hungry. I begin to consider my options, wanting to eat but still forced to choose the lowest calorie option, which seems to be a piece of toast with some cottage cheese and a few slices of cucumber.
"Hailey! Breakfast." I chime, setting the food on the table. "Come on." I say when she enters the kitchen and lift her up to put her into her chair. The toddler immediately starts eating while I stare at the toast in front of me, the all too familiar war in my head beginning, the rain heavily pattering against the windows.
I have to eat. I need the energy. Food is not the enemy.
But I can afford to skip this one meal, can't I? Nobody will notice, right?
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Travis' POV:
Once I dropped Taylor's parents off at the airport, I remain in the parking lot a little longer, staring at the phone number still carved into the palm of my hand. Since encountering Kayla yesterday I've been feeling things I haven't felt in years. Not towards her because I would never want her back, but somehow I feel a little empty, craving what I left behind many years ago. I don't get it though. I'm absolutely happy, feeling like the best version of myself ever since I got rid of what was slowly killing me - drugs. But all of the sudden the craving is overwhelming.
One high won't destroy the progress, right?
I pull out my phone and dial the number I never thought I'd ever dial again, the one written on my hand that I deleted years ago.
I grip the steering wheel, my knuckles white, phone pressed to my ear as it rings. The engine's off, but the quiet hum of the planes taking off and landing outside filters through the cracked window. My mind races, but I try to keep my breathing steady, rehearsing the words in my head.
Keep it short. Keep it simple.
She picks up after the third ring
"Kayla Nicole, who is this?" Her voice comes through the line and I inhale deeply.
"Travis." I breathe out.
"Travis." she says, drawing out my name. I can almost picture the way she's probably stretching on her bed, smiling like she has already won. "Didn't think you'd call so soon..."
I close my eyes for a second, cursing under my breath. This isn't what I need, not her games.
"Kayla." I say, keeping my tone flat. "I need to talk to you."
"You are talking to me, baby." Her voice dips lower, smooth like honey, and I can hear the smile widening. She's leaning into this, thinking I'm crawling back.
Focus, dammit.
I shift in my seat, the leather squeaking beneath me. My hands are clammy on the wheel now, and I rub my palm on my jeans.
"That's not why I'm calling."
"Oh?" Her voice tightens just a bit, the playful edge still there but tinged with something darker. Suspicion. Disappointment. "Then what is it? You need something?"
The question hangs there, heavy, and I don't want to say it out loud. I can hear her breathing on the other end, waiting, and the seconds stretch long between us. I grit my teeth, tapping my fingers against the dash.
"Yeah... I need something." I mumble.
She laughs softly, and it's the same laugh I used to fall for, but now it just makes my stomach twist.
"Let me guess. Not me, though, right?" She sighs, drawing it out, her voice dropping to a whisper. "You know, you used to want me and the other stuff. Now it's just the stuff."
I don't respond. What's the point? She knows the answer already. This dance, it's not new. I just need to get what I came for and get out.
"So what is it, Travis?" Her voice hardens, the flirtation fading. "What do you want?"
I finally let out the breath I've been holding, staring through the windshield at nothing.
"Coke. Can you help me out or not?"
There's a pause, and for a second I think she's going to hang up. Part of me almost hopes she does. But then she speaks, mumbling an adress, her voice cooler now, all the warmth gone.
The line goes dead, and I sit there in silence, the phone still in my hand, feeling the weight of it.
I toss the phone onto the passenger seat, staring blankly through the windshield. I feel like I'm in a bubble, sealed off from the world. My pulse is still racing, the conversation replaying in my head, her voice clinging to me like smoke.
I take a deep breath, trying to clear my thoughts.
What the hell am I doing?
I should've just let it go, found another way, anyone else but her. But here I am, about to drag myself back into her orbit. It's a familiar pull, one that's led me into more bad decisions than I can count.
The car feels too small, too quiet now. I turn the key, the engine sputtering to life, but I don't drive off right away. Instead, I sit there, gripping the wheel again, knuckles tight, feeling the weight of everything settle in.
She's not stupid. Kayla knows exactly what's happening. She plays the long game, always has. And this? This little call? It's exactly what she's been waiting for. She'll dangle what I need just out of reach, make me think I'm in control until I'm not. She's always been like that—seductive, dangerous. And it worked, once. Hell, more than once.
But not today. Not this time. I got Taylor and I'm not giving her up.
I put the car in gear and pull out onto the street, weaving through the early morning traffic. Everything passing by too fast, but my mind's locked on one thing: getting this over with. Get in, get what I need, and get out before she starts spinning her web again.
