Filed To Story: The Perfect Spiral Book PDF Free by Ashley Constantine
I understood their logic, but I didn’t believe it to be true.
“I’ll believe it if he says it, which he won’t. So can we please drop it? Let’s talk about Marcus, Tyson, or Kyle. Actually, let’s not talk about Kyle, that’s too weird.”
Our laughter filled the room as we continued our girls’ night, gossiping about the people we’d encountered at the New Year’s club party. The boys, the girls, the drama-it was all fair game.
After a few hours, the boys joined us, their eyes wide as they took in our face masks. We all burst into laughter at their expressions, and they quickly settled in, eager to join the conversation. We deftly changed the topic, keeping our previous discussion a secret.
They tried their best to pry, but we remained tight-lipped. We simply told them we were discussing boys and gossiping about girls. At the mention of boys, they exchanged glances, trying to coax us into revealing more. But we held our ground, keeping our secrets between the five of us.
As midnight approached, I found myself yawning repeatedly. Deciding it was time to call it a night, I asked, “Hannah, are you staying?”
She shook her head, explaining that she had to work at eight in the morning. Zara had work too, leaving only Andy and Sam. But with Kyle and Tyson present, I assumed they’d be staying with them. So much for the sleepover, I thought.
After bidding everyone goodnight, I ascended the stairs to the foyer and grabbed a water bottle. Once in my room, I washed the mask off my face and climbed into bed.
Here we are again, I thought, my mind replaying the nightmare I’d had. It was the worst one yet. I remembered that night as if it were yesterday.
I was running down the stairs, past the foyer, with him hot on my heels, shouting, “Get back here, Alex!” I needed to think fast. I needed a weapon. I dashed into the kitchen, frantically searching for a knife. But I couldn’t find one.
“I hid them,” he taunted.
Shit, shit, shit! What should I do? Think, Alex!
“People will be coming over soon. Mom will be back and she’ll call the police,” I tried to scare him, but he just laughed in my face.
“You think I’m scared of that threat, sweetie? Aww, Alex, you should know me better than that by now!” He was on the other side of the counter, slowly circling, brandishing the knife.
He was getting closer. The front door opened, and I heard voices. I gasped as he grabbed me, covering my mouth to stifle my screams. I started to cry. This is it. He’s going to kill me.
“Alex, we’re back!” I heard Kyle and a chorus of deep voices. Tears streamed down my face. This is it.
“Baby doll!”
“Alex?” Kyle and Knox called out in unison.
I bit down hard on his hand, tasting the metallic tang of his blood.
“You little-” He plunged the knife into my side.
The pain was excruciating. “Help me!” I cried out, only to be met with another stab. “Ahhhhh!” I screamed, feeling weak,
I tried to cover my wound, but the knife was still lodged in my side, I collapsed to the ground.
The kitchen door burst open, and my father knelt beside me, twisting the knife.
“Kyle!!! Help me!”
“I’m coming, Alex, hang in there! FUCK!” A body tackled my father, sending him flying across the room.
High-pitched screams and the sound of bones cracking filled the room. I was growing weaker.
“Alex!! Baby! Stay awake! Stay… oh my god! Call an ambulance! Now! ALEX! Stay with me, baby!!” My mom’s voice was pleading. Everything went black.
“Baby doll!!”
That was the last thing I heard before I slipped into unconsciousness. I woke up briefly in the ambulance, surrounded by bright lights and the wail of the siren, before losing consciousness again.
I woke up a few days later in the hospital, my family surrounding me, their faces etched with worry.
That night changed everything. It shattered my confidence, my trust. It shattered me. I became more introspective, speaking less and thinking more. I learned that speaking often landed me in trouble, so I kept quiet. I apologized to Kyle and the boys for ruining their prom night, but they assured me they didn’t care. Still, I knew they did.
When I woke up, the entire football team came to visit. They brought flowers and my favorite candy. They talked, and I listened. I couldn’t speak. My mind was racing, and I couldn’t form coherent sentences.
Glancing at the clock, I saw it was 2:44 a.m. It’s amazing how much you can get wrapped up in your own thoughts and how time flies while doing it. I sighed, closing my eyes, trying to will myself to sleep.
The sound of my door opening and closing jolted me awake. The lock clicked shut, and I heard footsteps approaching my bed. Could it be him?
My eyes flew open, and I was about to sit up when familiar arms wrapped around me.
“Baby doll, it’s me,” he murmured, his voice a soothing balm to my startled nerves. I exhaled the breath I’d been holding, my heart rate gradually returning to normal. Turning around, I nestled into his chest, noting the absence of a shirt.
His lips brushed the top of my head, a tender kiss that made me whisper a soft “Thank you” against his warm skin. I tilted my head up, pressing a kiss to his cheek.
In the dim light, I could just make out the faint smile on his lips. “Anytime, baby doll,” he responded, his voice a low rumble against my car. “I’m always here for you. I’m not going anywhere.”
I nestled deeper into his chest, his arms wrapping around me in a tight, protective hold. His lips found my hair again, pressing another kiss to my head before he rested his chin atop it.
We drifted off to sleep in that comforting embrace. I felt safe. I knew there would be no nightmares
I nestled deeper into his chest, his arms wrapping around me in a tight, protective hold. His lips found my hair again. pressing another kiss to my head before he rested his chin atop it.
We drifted off to sleep in that comforting embrace. I felt safe. I knew there would be no nightmares tonight. I was under his protection. That night, I slept with the peacefulness of a child, a stark contrast to the restless nights I’d been having. I hadn’t realized how much I needed him to help me sleep.
He knew that when I slept with him, the nightmares stayed away. I was grateful that he’d come in and held me until I fell asleep. I was grateful that he was here, with me, and that he remembered how his presence chased away my nightmares.
Months ago, I never would’ve thought this possible. But things were different now. He was different now.
After returning to college with Andy and Wes, I made it clear to Knox that we needed to maintain some distance.
Following my emotional unraveling that morning, he was finally starting to grasp why I needed some time to myself before I could mentally brace myself for the public scrutiny. It was early February, and college life was proceeding as usual.
Andy was in Houston, Texas for the Super Bowl, along with Wes and the rest of their families. I was back at school, working on a group project with my friends Tyler and Aaron.
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On her wedding anniversary, Alicia is drugged and stumbles into the wrong room—straight into the arms of the powerful Caden Ward, a man rumored never to touch women. Their night of passion shocks even him, especially when he discovers she’s still a virgin after two years of marriage to Joshua Yates.