It’s clear we’re both thinking about it throughout the ride back to the apartment. I moved in with him shortly after that terrible day. Piper got another roommate once I confirmed with the school’s administration that I’d be taking the rest of the semester off. We only had a couple of weeks as roommates, but it gave us back our friendship. I’ll never stop being grateful for that, especially since I don’t know how I’d be able to hold it together without her.

Not that living with Colt is terrible or anything like that. But it isn’t always easy to live together with all this shit between us. His undying hope that sometimes seems a lot more like delusion. All the terrible memories. There are moments when I look at him, and I might as well be back in that basement.

But I can’t leave him. I don’t want to, either. I don’t want to be without him, even if it means having to remember. It isn’t as if I’d be able to forget, anyway.

“I wish Nix could visit her.” He opens the refrigerator door and pulls out a bottle of water, which he opens and hands to me like it’s second nature before taking one for himself. “I think he’d feel a lot better if he did. I know I do. Like it’s a way of reminding myself why we had to do all that shit and keep his secrets.” He rarely, if ever, speaks of James. I’m certainly fine with that.

“You kept her alive. You did everything you could for her. I’m sure she would’ve done anything she could for you, too.”

He wraps his arms around me. “Thank you. I hope you know how much I love you.”

I lean into him, enjoying his warmth. “I love you too.”

The End… for now.

* * *

Thank you for reading Lock me Inside. Please keep reading for a bonus chapter told from Colt’s perspective. Trust me. You DO NOT want to skip it.

43. Bonus Chapter 11 1/2

Told from Colt’s perspective

“What a way to make an exit.” I chuckle as I follow her out of the restaurant. I didn’t want to be there either, so I’m actually glad Leni is playing sick.

“Look. I’m really not feeling well. Can you please just leave me alone?” Leni pushed past the hostess. Using her shoulder, she presses open the heavy door leading to the street. Stepping outside, she sucks in an audible breath. Her shoulders lift before dropping back down with an exhale.

Just as I’m about to call her out for acting, I realize her body is swaying from side to side. Her legs start to shake, and she looks like she is about to hit the ground.