He picked up on the first ring.
“Hey, kitten,” he said, and his voice was so warm and deep and full of concern that I nearly burst into tears right then. “Talk to me. Are you okay? The school hasn’t closed yet, has it? It’s not time. Talk to me. Did Tasha touch you? Did any guy look at you? I swear to the Moon Goddess, if anyone laid a finger—”
He was about to finish that sentence—voice rising, protective, furious—but I cut in before he could spiral.
“It’s okay, Damon,” I said softly, blinking back the tears I hadn’t even realized were forming. “I’m fine, okay? I just… I really need to talk to you about something.”
My voice cracked.
And then, just like that, it happened.
I burst into tears.
I didn’t even know where it came from. One second I was standing under the sun, phone pressed
