Next Chapter 3
Date: 6/17/2016,
Categories:
Fiction
Author: Michael.F
... ‘what if?’ kinda thing but it scared me. A lot.” Her eyes were wide. “Was it because of this morning? Is that why you were thinking about it?” “I think it was longer than that. I just…” My throat tightened a little and I took a shuddering breath. “I still see Coach Walburn shooting himself over and over and over in my head. I know you were trying to help me forget it last night but…it all came back this morning. Everything he said about losing his family…fighting with you made me think about losing you and I don’t know if—” “Jack!” Kayla said, taking my hands, “You aren’t going to lose me! Don’t you dare think that!” “It’s been eating at me,” I said, feeling panic rise in my voice, “And I can’t think straight anymore. I can’t…I don’t feel like me. I’m scared, Kayla. Every time I’ve tried to talk to people today, I fuck it up. Work sucked. Then Craig called me and he feels like what happened to Coach Walburn was his fault and…” I had to stop and take a few deep breaths to hold off what felt like an oncoming panic attack. “It wasn’t his fault. And it wasn’t yours either!” “I think I got so angry this morning because…having this in my head isn’t letting me think straight. I’m not using that as an excuse. It’s not. I said some really shitty stuff and I still feel angry that you lied and that this Jeff guy is still trying to get in your life but I don’t know how much of that is because of…” I tapped the side of my head. “Jack…” I ran my hand roughly over my face, feeling ...
... exhausted in every part of my body. “I need help with this,” I said slowly, “And you were so great, sweetie. I know how much you wanted to help me.” “You don’t think I just set up the threesome out of guilt?” she asked, an edge in her voice. Fresh wound. I sighed. “I don’t know, Kayla. I know you wanted to help me and…even if that was part of it, I know you really were trying to help me. But I don’t know if this is something either of us can work through. Even together…I mean, did you ever go through something like this?” She shook her head. “What are you going to do, then?” “There was a doctor…psychologist or whatever. At the police station a couple of days ago. He gave me his card. I think I’m going to give him a call.” “You should. And you should have told me. Maybe that would have been a better way to help than…” The unfinished words hung guiltily in the air. “Kayla, this isn’t something I want to do alone. Trust me, it means the world to me that you tried to help. And not just because of the sex. I mean, yeah, that was awesome like usual…” She smiled a little, “But I don’t want this shit in my head to fuck up stuff like this morning.” “Well, we still need to talk about it,” she said, looking at me levelly, “It’s not something that’s just going to go away.” “I know.” I looked at her, feeling all the shame of what had happened flaring up under her gaze. “I’m sorry about what I said. I love you and…We will talk about it, I promise. I just want to make sure I can talk about it ...