20 Days In His Bedroom

Chapter Forty

I decide to go home. I have nowhere else to go. God damn you, Kyle. God, please help me.

"Hey, girl," a voice calls from behind me. I turn around—it's Emma.

"Oh." I smile. "Good night," I say. Should I ask if I can go home with her? Oh my God. No way.

"Is your home around here?" she narrows her eyes, studying me.

I want to say, I don't have a home.

"Yeah," I nod instead.

"Okay, I can give you a ride. My place is just three blocks away, but I'm too lazy to walk every day without my car," she chuckles, covering her smile. She's so sweet.

"No, thank you. I'm fine. I actually like walking," I lie. "But thank you, really." I offer her a warm smile.

"As you like, girl." She pats my shoulder gently and walks away.

I'm scared. I want my mom and dad so badly right now. They never would've let me stay with a stranger. They were so protective—calling me dozens of times even if I just went out with friends. I hope they're okay.

Still, Kyle won't leave my mind. God, please make me forget him. I shouldn't have put so much hope in him. I thought he had feelings for me—but after what he did today? I'm sure he doesn't care. He cared more about his pride than about me. He didn't even take me with him. I hate him.

The streets are getting darker, and I'm growing more afraid. Jack wouldn't do anything to me... right? Stop thinking like that, Twy. He has so many girls around him, he probably doesn't even notice me. But staying in his place isn't right either. He'll wonder why I didn't leave with Kyle. Whatever. I have nowhere else. Jack's place is better than the streets.

"Hey, gorgeous," a man's voice slurs near me. I start to half-walk, half-run.

"What's your name?" He's getting closer—his voice is clearly drunk. Oh my God. I don't even want to look behind me. I just run.

Beep. Beep. Beep.

I glance to my right. A car is honking—and I see Kyle inside. But I can't stop running. That creep might catch me.

"Kyle!" I scream.

I stop when I no longer hear the man's footsteps. I turn to see Kyle gripping the guy by his collar. The man looks terrified. I run back toward them.

"Kyle, it's fine," I say, grabbing Kyle's arm. I'm scared he'll go too far and end up in trouble—because of me.

"Get in the car," he says, tossing me the keys.

"I'm not leaving you," I protest. "Please, Kyle," I beg.

"Leave me, big ass!" the man spits, trying to escape.

"One more word and you're dead," Kyle growls, his voice dripping with rage.

"Please, Kyle!" I yell. He's not listening.

"I said get in the car," he finally looks at me.

"I'm not," I snap, jaw clenched.

Kyle throws the guy to the ground. The creep scrambles up and runs.

"I can't believe what I just saw," I mutter. How can Kyle be so terrifying?

"What did that bastard do?" he asks, still seething.

"I don't even remember. I'm so tired." I pause. "But wait—what are you doing here?"

"I'm leaving now," he shrugs. "Just happened to pass by and saw you running, desperately hoping for a hero like me to save you."

I stare. Is he serious?

"Who said I needed a hero like you? I could've handled it myself," I put my hands on my hips, trying to act confident.

"Yeah, right. You were running like a mouse from a cat," he teases. I can't help smiling a little. He saw through me.

"Don't hide your smile. I already saw it," he grins and winks.

Oh, I melt.

"Okay then, leave—as you said," I turn to walk.

I hear his footsteps behind me. I knew it. I knew he'd follow.

"Leave," I repeat, seeing his shadow beside mine.

"Sure I will," his shadow nods. Suddenly, his arms scoop me up from the ground. "But with you."

"Are you crazy?!" I scream, kicking my legs. He always does this—these insane, unexpected things.

"Did I ever say I wasn't?" He's scanning for his car.

"Kyle, I'm serious! We look ridiculous!" But of course, he doesn't even look at me. He opens the door and sets me down in the passenger seat. Then he climbs in next to me.

"What?" I snap, both mad and secretly happy.

"What?" he mimics.

"Why did you take me? You said you found me by—"

"I came to pick you up from work," he interrupts.

I turn toward the window, hiding my smile. My heart won't stop fluttering.

"Why?" I whisper.

"Look at me." He gently lifts my chin with his hand. Thank God I manage not to smile like a fool.

"I missed you. Yeah, I know, weird. Maybe you won't believe me, but that's how I feel," he says.

I close my eyes, listening carefully to every word.

"Where are you now?" he had asked earlier.

"Why do you care? You left," I had yelled. "You left me there alone!"

"I didn't want to force you to stay with me if you really thought I was dangerous," he says softly now.

"Right, so you decided to leave me, and now you're calling me?" I had shouted then. Now, though, sitting beside him... I don't feel angry. I feel safe.

"I'm sorry if I annoyed you," he says. "I just wanted to hear your damn voice. But it's fine. Go do whatever the hell you want."

His voice is soft—not angry. Not anymore.

I look at him.

"Did you really miss me?" I ask before I even realize it.

"Care to know?" he smirks. "Well... yeah, a bit. Enough that I couldn't stop myself from going out and looking for you." He pauses. "It's the first time I've missed someone like this. I was with you just yesterday, but it felt like I hadn't seen you in ages."

He sounds like he's talking more to himself than to me. My heart is doing cartwheels. I got butterflies the size of birds.

But does he like me? Love me? I can't tell. Maybe later tonight, I'll replay every word before I fall asleep. But right now—I'm just happy. Genuinely happy.

"I was mad at you," I admit. "So mad that I tried to convince myself I hated you. But actually... I missed you too."

⸻

Author's Note:

Hey guys, I missed you so much. Twy and Kyle missed you too. 💕

I hope you enjoyed this chapter! I've been super busy, but I realized I haven't updated in a while—so I wrote this one just for you in an hour!

What did you think? Were you happy when Kyle showed up for Twy?

Don't forget to hit that ⭐ before you go. Your comments keep me motivated to write, even on my busiest days.

Love you all ❤️