Page 47 of Save Me

Then, in this moment, I realize she and Micah are super similar, and for a terrifying moment, my assumption about his nice guy act shatters.

Maybe Micah is acting like he is because he was never enough to get noticed. Maybe his endless talking and weird cussing are just ways to stand out so people would see him. See him.

Maybe Micah is just incredibly lonely.

That thought makes me angry. Do I really want Micah to be nice that badly that I’m making stories up about him?

Before I can think better of it, I snatch up my phone.

Me: Getting my teeth taken care of. All the better to enjoy my human with since you seem to think that poorly of me.

I hit send. Maybe this will piss him off enough that he’ll drop the act and we can get on with things. I didn’t accept his help, and he knows that. He knows I’m pissed.

But the more I drive, the more I’m second-guessing it. That was so stupid. I showed emotion. Micah’s going to jump on that like a fly on honey.

Isn’t that what I want, though?

Nerves on nerves boil in my stomach, and I power my phone off.

Let him, then. Not like he can touch me anyway.

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

I can’t sleep. After Maddox sent me that text, he went radio silent. I responded–quite a few times, actually, but no response. In fact, the messages aren’t even showing as delivered. I freaked out at first, but then Maddox’s car rolled into the driveway, and he silently went to his room and closed the door.

Of course, I wanted to follow and ask him all about how it went and nurse him back to health with milkshakes and chocolate.

But I didn’t, and it’s eating me alive.

So, instead, it’s the middle of the night, and I’m gnawing on the inside of my cheek while my fresh tattoo burns, wondering if I should dye my hair. What color should I do? Blue, to match Princess?

There’s a high-pitched sound from Maddox’s room.

I sit straight up, my heart pounding. What was that? For a moment, everything is quiet. Then, it happens again, and this time, it sounds like a cry. From his spot next to me, Princess raises his head.

I’m out of bed before I realize what I’m doing. I make it halfway to the door before I stop.

Maddox has made it abundantly clear he doesn’t want my help, and I’ve seen what happens when I help–it’s not wanted. All it does is push Maddox away, just like it pushed Tyler away.

I stand there listening to Maddox whimper, and my hands shake. I hate this. I hate listening to him suffer. It makes every nerve ending in my skin feel like it’s on fire, and a doom chant goes off in my mind: not safe, not safe, not safe. It builds and builds and builds.

I can’t do this. I can’t do this; I need to do something, even if it ruins our relationship. I’m not the kind to watch people suffer, but that doesn’t mean I have to be stupid about what I do.

Then, a plan forms, and suddenly, my body is calm again. The heaviness lifts, and I can feel all my fingers. I’m in my bedroom, which smells like clean laundry and a little bit of sawdust from the bed frame, and I can clearly see my next move.

I stalk down the stairs, hearing the thump of Princess jumping off the bed to follow me. I need a little bit of distance to make this call in case Maddox overhears me. In the kitchen, I grab Princess a celery stick, which he grabs with both hands, and then unlock my phone.

If Logan’s not going to kill me, then maybe we can work together. I saved his life, and he’s my friend. Surely that’s worth something.

It’s past two AM, but I press call anyway.

The phone rings so many times I think he won’t pick up. Then, Logan’s sleepy voice comes across the line. “Micah?”

“I need your help.”

There’s silence, then–CRUNCH. Princess takes a bite of his snack.

“Are you okay?”