Total pages in book: 78
Estimated words: 73774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 73774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 369(@200wpm)___ 295(@250wpm)___ 246(@300wpm)
“We are too,” Glen says. “She’s been seeing a psychiatrist, who believes Tori has bipolar disorder. We’ve tried to put her on medications, but with her using drugs and drinking, they’re causing her to lash out. Which is why we need your help.”
I’m taken aback by everything they’re saying since Tori has never said a word about any of this, but mostly, I’m shocked they actually want my help… until Tori’s mom, Sandra, explains.
“We need you to break up with her, please,” Sandra says. “We know you’re planning to leave for LA once you graduate. We overheard you and Tori speaking, and if Tori goes, she’ll never get the help she needs.”
“Not happening,” I say, realizing I made a mistake coming here.
“Please,” Sandra pleads. “Tori is so lost, and as long as you’re together, she won’t let us help her.”
“I love her,” I choke out. “I can’t just abandon her. She’s my entire world. I get you don’t like me, but I love her, and she loves me.” I look at both of them, silently begging for them to understand. “I know we’re young, but what we feel is real. I want her to get help, but please don’t ask me to walk away from her. I can’t do it. Not until she tells me that’s what she wants.”
Glen clenches his jaw. “Despite Tori trying to keep it from us, we know about your little band and how you’re linked to the Blackwoods. If you want to pursue those dreams, I suggest you rethink your decision. End things with Tori and move on with your life. Otherwise, I’m going to be forced to make my own decisions that you’re not going to like.”
I stand, refusing to let this asshole threaten me. “Do what you got to do, but I’m not walking away from Tori.”
“Please,” Sandra begs as I walk toward the door. “If you love my daughter. If you want what’s best for her, let her go.”
May
Pre-Graduation Party
Tori: I won’t be able to make it to the party. I’m sorry, Gage, for everything. But please know that I love you.
I stare at the text, confused as fuck. This is the last party before we graduate, and the guys and I take off to LA. I asked Tori several times if she wanted to go, and she said she did. The more she pushes me away, the closer I pull her toward me. When I asked her about seeing a psychiatrist and being on meds, she lost her shit, telling me her parents were lying, and she wants to run away.
And when I told her I couldn’t do that because she’s still a minor, and I could get in serious shit, she accused me of being on their side. Despite me telling her she shouldn’t smoke or drink, she got trashed, which led to us arguing until I ended up fucking the anger out of her. Since then, she’s been quiet. Surprisingly, she hasn’t been smoking or drinking lately, but she also hasn’t been acting like herself. I just keep telling myself that once we’re situated in LA, I’m going to bring her over there, away from her parents, and make sure she’s taken care of. I love her and will do anything to make sure she’s okay.
As I stare at her text, I consider texting her back but decide to just go over there. If I tell her I’m coming over, she’ll argue and possibly leave. So instead, I pocket my phone and wallet, then head out.
Half an hour later, I arrive at Tori’s house and head straight back to her pool house since that’s where she spends all her time. I can’t even remember the last time she actually spent the night in the main house.
Without knocking, since I never do, I enter the pool house. The first thing I notice is that it’s quiet, which is unusual for Tori because, like me, she’s one to blast music when she’s alone.
“Tor!” I call out as I walk through the main room and down the hallway to the bedroom where she sleeps. “If you think I’m letting you stay home on the last night we have together, you have another—”
My words come to a halt, stuck in my throat, as I stare at the scene in front of me.
Tori.
Her lifeless body.
In the walk-in closet.
It takes several seconds for my brain to understand what I’m looking at, but once I do, I spring into action.
“Tori!” I shout as I quickly get her down and gently set her onto the floor. “Baby, what did you do?” Her body is cold… too cold, and her eyes aren’t opening. “Tori, wake the fuck up!” I pat her cheeks, then drop my head to her chest to listen for a heartbeat. But there isn’t one.
Refusing to give up, I call 911. While I wait, I try everything I can think of to bring her back to me. But she never wakes up.