Free November Sky (Hardest Mistakes Book 2) by Dannielle Wicks Page A

find Jess, to see if she’s okay.
    The kitchen is dark as I enter. Something cracks and crunches under my feet as I step forward and I frown.
    “Kristian,” Jess whispers near my ear. I turn toward her voice.
    “Jess? Are you okay? What happened?” I reach over and flip the light switch. The fluorescent light illuminates the mess. I gasp; everything I own is broken or destroyed, including the furniture.
    Jess’s whisper comes from behind me. “I don’t know. I was right beside you when that girl started dancing with you. You let her and that hurt.” I stay quiet, what am I supposed to say to that? “I was upset, but then I came looking for you. I was worried I’d hurt you like last time. I was wrong.”
    She saw the kiss. Panicked, I spin around, trying to reach for her.
    “Jess, wait! It’s not what you think.” I can’t feel her around me anymore. “Jess?” I ask again, quieter, but she’s gone.
    It feels as though she’s died all over again. I can’t handle the grief that swamps me. I clutch my still aching stomach and sit down amidst the broken glass in the kitchen and hang my head. How did everything go so wrong? A tear dribbles from my nose and hits a shiny piece of glass, followed by another and another. Why do I have to wreck everything? It’s all my fault, all over again.
    I don’t know how long I lay on the cold kitchen floor, glass poking into my side. I remember the sunrise, but then I also remember seeing the sunset. My phone is a constant annoyance, buzzing or ringing in my pocket. I’ve had enough. Pulling it from my jeans, I hurl it across the room. It hits the hard floor with a loud crack and skids to a stop between my broken TV and the stuffing from my couch.
    I feel empty.
    By some miracle, I had a second chance. Jess was here with me, that’s all I ever wanted. I’ve ruined everything.
    I roll over so I’m lying on my back. A broken plate presses into my spine, but I ignore it.
    “Jess?” I call softly into the darkness. Still no answer. She’s gone.
    My stomach grumbles in protest, I really should eat something, but every time I think about food my stomach churns, making me feel sick. My mouth feels dry, I need water. I just can’t bring myself to get up.
    I don’t know how much time has passed or how long ago my phone finally gave up and died.
    A loud knock startles me, my eyes snapping open. I stay where I am, waiting. If I stay quiet, maybe they’ll leave.
    “Kristian, are you there? Open the door,” Bailey’s voice yells from the other side of my locked door. I turn my head away, ignoring her. I no longer have the energy to get up.
    “I’m warning you right now, Krissy; I know how to pick a lock.” She goes quiet, waiting for my answer. I wish she would just go away.
    “Right, well, I warned you.” I hear something drop on the other side of the door, and then a scratching noise. She really is trying to pick my lock. A loud curse escapes her mouth and something clangs on the floor. I sigh under my breath and close my eyes.
    Suddenly she shouts in triumph and my door swings open. I hold my breath. If I don’t move, maybe she won’t see me.
    “Kristian!” Never mind. “Oh my god.” I hear her slide across the glass strewn floor and stop beside me, her fingers probing my shoulder and arms. “Oh my god, Kristian. Please be alive,” she whispers frantically, gripping my shoulder tightly and shaking. I groan in frustration and open my eyes slowly.
    “I’m not dead, yet.” My voice comes out hoarse and dry.
    “What happened?”
    I can’t bring myself to look at her panicked face, so I just stare straight ahead; her knees press into the broken glass on the floor, creating little droplets of blood.
    Maybe if I ignore her long enough, she’ll leave. “Are you hurt?” Yes, I’m hurt. The pain and loss I feel has crippled me, obviously. She places her warm hand under my cheek and lifts my face to look at her. Glass shards bite into my skin, but I don’t