Coming Home

Chapter 26

“Are you okay baby girl?” Cayden asked, wrapping his arms around me from behind and pulling me against his hard chest.

“I’m scared Cay. This guy is a complete psycho and I don’t want him to hurt anybody. I’m starting to think coming here was a bad idea. Now he has more people to hurt,” I said, leaning my head back on Cayden’s shoulder.

“Don’t think like that baby girl. You’re going to worry yourself sick if you do. We’ll get this taken care of, I promise,” he said, leaning down and placing a kiss on my temple.

I turned around in his arms to face him, looking up to look him in the eye. Ever since his outburst at the gas station, Cayden had been trying to put on a brave front and not let his emotions show, but I knew better.  I could see the worry and the anger in his eyes, letting me know this whole situation was affecting him just as much as it was me. I let my hands trail up his arms to wrap around his neck, pulling him down so his lips met mine. Instantly, he crashed his lips to mine and I smiled against his lips at his enthusiasm. His arms tightened around my waist as our lips moved in sync. Cayden lowered his arms to my hips and lifted my feet off the ground so I didn’t have to stand on my toes any longer.

The sound of someone clearing their throat made us break apart. Blushing at being caught, I turned my attention to the newcomer. My face lit up as I saw James standing there with Liam and Tegan. I broke ran to James and threw my arms around him, hugging the life out of him. It had been months since I had seen him and I had missed him like crazy.

“Well, hello to you too Kenzi,” James said with a laugh as he wrapped his arms around me.

“I’ve missed you Jamie,” I said, using the name he only ever allowed me to use.

“I’ve missed you too,” he answered.

“We didn’t get a hug like that,” Tegan said from behind me, the laugh in her voice evident.

“I know. I don’t think she loves us anymore,” Liam retorted.

I rolled my eyes, pulling away from James.  Liam was standing directly in front of me so I launched myself at him, wrapping my arms around his neck. He just barely managed to catch me and keep us upright. He wrapped his arms around my waist, laughing as he did so. I squealed in laughter as he started spinning really fast, just like he used to do.

“You know I love you Li-Li,” I said as he stopped spinning and we pulled away from each other.

“Yeah I know. I was just teasing you,” he said as I wrapped my arms around Tegan, being careful of the baby.

“You’ll have to wait until that little baby’s out before you get a real hug,” I said as I pulled away from my best friend.

“Oh, I know,” she answered with a smile, her hands going to rub her baby bump.

Liam suddenly walked behind Tegan and wrapped his arms around her, his hands resting over hers on her baby bump. I smiled at the scene. It was so romantic and pure. It made me happy to see my best friends so happy and in love. It reassured me that there was still good in the world, amongst all the evil.

“So James, how’s Jen doing?” Tegan asked, turning to the guy being questioned.

Looking at James, I instantly knew something was wrong. His eyes had turned downcast and a saddened expression covered his face. He looked so hurt and vulnerable that I wanted to wrap my arms around him and reassure him that everything was okay and that’s exactly what I did. I walked over to him and wrapped my arms around his waist, burying my head in his chest. His arms instantly wrapped around me as he buried his head in my hair. I could feel the tears sliding onto my neck off his face and I tightened my grip on him.