Book IV of the UNC Series
Carter Blake has a bone-deep hatred for the world-and especially for the people in it. All he wants is to keep his head down, focus on school and basketball, and avoid the mess of human connection. After enduring years of...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
My eyes snap open as I hear the soft clicking of a door closing. I pinch my eyes and rub the sleep away as I try to make sense of what happened. I don't remember falling asleep or what time it was. Ripping the sheets off my lower half, I turn, placing the soles of my feet against the cold hardwood floor.
I grab my phone, noting that it's still early in the afternoon.
Confusion consumes me as I try to make out what woke me up. That's when I hear a rustling in the kitchen. My features relax as I stare at my open bedroom door.
It's been a week since Olive's surgery and a week since the doctor said she would be okay. She hasn't come home yet, supposedly knowing it would be hard for her at home with all the pain and adjusting.
Though Addison didn't want to waste money on vet care, she agreed as soon as the doctor mentioned how at ease Olive would be at the hospital. Since then, Addison has been dividing her time between the tattoo shop and the hospital. I'm not even sure if she's gone to class, which started back up this past Monday, since she's rarely been coming home, mostly only returning to shower and sleep.
Stretching my limbs, I stand, padding across my room to creep toward the door and lean against the frame.
I haven't seen Addie properly since we learned Olive would be alright. Every time I visited her, it happened to be around when Addie was at work—not that I planned it that way.
Crossing my arms over my chest, I watch Addie tinkering around in the kitchen, preparing a meal for herself. I let out a sigh of relief, knowing she's at least eating. Half hidden behind the centre island and with her back to me, I can only see her sporting a sweater that swallows her figure and her dark, soft hair tied up and away from the nape of her neck. Though a few strands have escaped, they seem to tickle her skin as she tugs them away in frustration.
Silently, I push off the frame and head toward her. My footsteps are quiet against the loud rustling of her opening the cupboards and searching for Tupperware. Coming up behind her, she startles when I wrap my arms around her hips. I tug her back into my chest as I rest my chin on the crown of her head.
"You scared me," she exhales before relaxing against me.
"I haven't seen you in a while," I mumble as I flatten my palm against her stomach, drawing circles with my thumb.
She ducks her chin and stares at the hand that's drawing patterns into her sweater. With an exhale, she slumps, dropping her head back to meet my eye. Today, the greens are more vibrant in the hues of soft, warm browns. Her little nose wrinkles in displeasure as she twists her lips. "I'm sorry. I've just been wanting to stay by Olive's side."
I squeeze her hip. "Don't apologize for that. I just miss you." She wraps her hand around my arm, rubbing her cheek against it. "How is she doing?"
Addie presses her lips together as if to contain the tears. She pinches her eyes, turning to my arm to hide away from me.
