Perri and Mitch- the sixth book special to series 'Perri and Me' about Perri Kiely.

Chapter 1 Part 9

My vision focuses and then I sit bolt upright.

The text is from Pel. What? I thought he was sleeping in Reid's room.

I sigh and wipe my tears because they were coming down my face.

I decide to ignore it, suddenly feeling angry about how he ditched me for Reid. He thinks I'm afraid of him hurting me. How dare I? Using that...lie...against him. Whenever I want. Whenever I feel like it.

I suddenly feel so so bad...

I should probably just apologise for acting up...hopefully he'll just forget about it.

I almost jump as my bedroom door opens and Pel walks in.

He's wearing long shorts and the same grey shirt from before. His hair is quite messy though and he looks tired. I would be...at three in the morning.

He walks over to the other side of the bed and gets under the covers. Relief rushes through me. Maybe now he's here I can finally get some sleep.

My brain shuts down and I'm about to close my eyes when he interrupts me.

"Did you get my text?" Pel asks, his voice quiet.

I turn around in the bed to face him, but he's looking up.

"I did..." I say. "How did you know I was awake?"

He turns to face me now and his brown eyes meet mine.

"You're always awake at three exactly. Every night..."

I'm touched that he even bothered to notice.

"I'm sorry I told Mitch..." I breathe.

"It's not that you told Mitch..." He says.

He faces the ceiling again.

"I'm sorry I caught you off guard...in the studio. I just completly forgot, I just wanted to tell you before that I..."

I hear his voice break again, and so does my heart.

"Pel..." I whisper. "It's okay..."

"I don't want to lose you Amber..." He says, like it's hurting him to say it. "I've lost so much already..."

"You have so much Pel..." I say.

"But why am I hurting you?" He says, raising his voice.

"It's just a stupid dream Pel..."

"It's not just a stupid dream Amber if you have it every single night! It's not..."

Just tell him the truth...

"Shh..." I whisper, remembering now that Reid is asleep....

"I'm sorry..." He says, really tearing up now. "I shouldn't be using our son against you...you shouldn't be seeing me as a violent person..."

What kind of human being am I?

I throw my arms around him, trying not to burst into tears myself.

"You're such a good dad..." I say, my voice shaking. "Better than...my dad ever was...okay?"

He nods and we break apart, then he smiles at me.

I can't stay here with him, I feel so bad for lying...

"Pel...you can sleep here. I'll...I'll go watch Reid sleep."

"Why?" He whispers.

"I don't know...I just can't sleep so..."