The Resurrection of Aubrey Miller(52)

“Bree—”
“I need to go to MY apartment!” I shout back at him and Linda’s body jars at my raised voice.
I avoid her eyes but lower my tone as I plead, “Please, Kaeleb.”
He glances at Linda who returns his stare before letting out a ragged breath, rubbing the back of his neck and looking back at me. His expression is defeated as he responds, “All right, Bree. Whatever you need.”
“Thank you,” I whisper before turning to Linda. “We’ll talk tomorrow?”
Her eyes light up and she releases a lengthy sigh of relief before running up to me and embracing me. “I’d love that, honey.”
I release her and give her a small smile as I step away. The relieved look on her face breaks my heart. I memorize her face, the light in her green eyes and her beautiful smile, taking in every one of her features before I turn and open the door. There will be no talking tomorrow.
Goodbye, Linda.
I swallow my tears and make my exit from the room with Kaeleb and Linda not far behind when I hear a familiar cry coming from a room down the way. Continuing my strides, I slow as I approach it, careful to remain unseen while I watch the interaction.
Quinn is lying in her bed, her face completely hidden by the heads of her mother and father as they both embrace her, their own sobs echoing through the hallway. Her bandaged wrists are wrapped tightly around their necks as they remain huddled together in their grief, their bodies shuddering in unison with each cry released.
I find comfort in the fact that they are mending their wounds, and hope to God that her parents will take care of her in my absence.
Goodbye, Quinn.
I place my hand on the doorframe to say my silent, heartfelt farewell, then continue past her room. Heading toward the hospital exit, I release a long breath, comforted by the fact that there are only two more goodbyes to go.

Chapter Twenty-Four

I step out of the shower and grab my towel, quickly squeezing it through my hair and running it over my body. Once I’m dressed in my flannel pajama pants and T-shirt, I pause to eye the wooden doors underneath my sink and swallow hard. The contents behind them will be in use soon, something that will cause unbearable pain, but is necessary to protect the ones I love.
And I do love Kaeleb. I know this with absolute certainty. But I also know that my love doesn’t hold any power over the death that surrounds me. It envelops me in its darkness, an ever present shadow that hovers all around me, killing anyone who dares to come near it with its venomous mist.
I have to get him as far away from me as possible. I was selfish to think that I could ever live a normal life. To enjoy the simple things like the laughter and love of my family and friends, one of which is lying in the hospital while the other one is being eaten alive by the cancer festering inside of her.
As I hear Kaeleb in my bedroom, my heart shatters with the knowledge of the risk I pose to him. My poison has already spread to Linda and Quinn. I can’t let anything happen to him. I won’t.
Opening the bathroom door, I step out and am met with a sad half-smile as Kaeleb sits on the end of my bed, watching me warily as I stop and stare at his beautiful face. His hazel eyes are filled with apprehension and grief as he lifts his hand slowly and reaches for me.
“Wanna talk about it?” he asks as he takes the hand I offer him and pulls me onto his lap.
“No.”
I allow him to cradle me against his body and inhale him deeply. The soothing scent washes over me and tears line the bottoms of my eyes. His hand rises and strokes my hair, and I listen to his intake of air through his chest while watching Walter frolic in his sleep as he lies in the corner.
“Linda told me about your conversation with her while we were at the hospital. I know you’re hurting, Bree, and I can’t even begin to imagine where that beautiful head of yours is right now with everything that happened tonight.” He presses me away and peers into my eyes. “Please, let me be here for you.”
I stare through my tears into in his pleading eyes, and my heart skips within my chest, wanting so badly to just get lost in him one more time before I lose him forever.
My final goodbye.
Our heated breaths mingle as we hold each other’s gazes, the air between us caked with the urgency of the moment. I just want to forget the pain. The absolute agony that is tearing across my chest as I memorize his expression and burn it into my brain.
Slowly, my face drifts toward him and I tentatively brush my lips against his while running my hands up his chest. His breaths increase and I feel his heart pounding below my fingers as he curls his hand around the nape of my neck and brings me closer, pressing his mouth firmly against mine. Parting my lips, I fight back the urge to sob out loud as his taste floods my mouth, a taste that I never want to forget.
His warm tongue sweeps along mine, sending goose bumps along my arms as my hands make my way to his head, fisting the strands tightly between my fingers.
“I need you, Kaeleb,” I mumble against his mouth. “Please, take me away. Make the pain stop. Please…please…I need you.”
I beg him quietly until he wraps his arm around my waist and flips me onto the bed, our mouths working against each other as his weight lands on my chest, my legs circling his waist. I pull him as closely as I can, our movements becoming frenzied and frantic until I release his hair from my grip and my nails dig a path downward through his shirt. His groan fills my mouth before he breaks the kiss, working his way to the hollow of my neck.
With him hovering over me, feeling the heat from his body soothing my pain, the way his lips brush my skin with such gentleness and reverence, his scent overwhelming me as I breathe it in deeply just to find some sort of solace…I completely shatter. My chin trembles and tears escape the sides of my eyes, streaming into my hair as I release my hold on him and cover my face with my hands. My shoulders shake as a sob works its way through my throat, the anguish so potent it’s impossible to contain.