In a Heartbeat (MxM)

Chapter 43

But as the pain of the bond continued its assault, I stepped closer to the house steps. I pulled out my phone, bracing myself along the wall as the migraine throbbed. My thumb hovered over the screen, as I found it difficult to focus long enough to scroll through my contacts.

Simon's sobs sounded like he was right next to me, crying into my chest like the other night, and the building pressure in my chest intensified. I scrolled, finding Michael's number, debating whether I really wanted to call that asshole.

But, Simon trusted him; trusted him a lot more than me for sure. I couldn't find it in me to press the call button, so I scrolled back up. No matter how much Simon trusted him, I didn't want him here, he'd probably just rub it in my face that I couldn't do anything. That I was so powerless to help somebody I was destined to be with.

And then I found Aspen's number. I hesitated for a bit, letting my thumb hover over it while trying to focus on my breathing. No matter how much he'd probably punch me or yell at me, I trusted him a lot more than Michael. And he knew how to help Simon, after all, he knew him better, and had dealt with his attacks before.

Pushing past the pain for a second, I pressed it, steeling myself to stay on the line as I waited for him to answer.

It took two rings before he picked up. He was silent, but I could just sense the disdain and contempt over the stark silence.

I sighed before saying, "he needs you."

"What did you do now?"

I breathed shakily. "He's hurting. He-he's at his house."

I could hear Aspen curse as it sounded like he was on the move. "Where?"

I explained how to get there, when I felt a sharp sting in my side, almost as if I had been sucker-punched. Then it felt like it was burning, the pain lingering along with the rest of the pain I could feel rolling off of Simon.

"What is it?" Aspen asked as I gasped in pain.

"Hurry," I breathed out when I could feel it again, this time it felt like the time Michael had clawed my side in our duel. "Shit."

I couldn't understand Aspen as he continued to say things, the pain so bad it felt like the world was spinning now. I blinked, looking into the house, trying to ground myself enough to understand him. I managed to hear him make out, "is he injured?"

"Injured? Why would he be in-" I stopped, the image of his scars I had seen flashed, and that alone made my breath hitch, fear creeping in. "Shit."

I crawled my way up the stairs, the fear I felt from Xavier's stunt also rolling through the back of my mind. "Fuck, fuck, fuck..." I mumbled, stepping through the front doors. A minute ago, I wouldn't have dared to, but with that awful image in mind, the need to just make sure he was alright was growing stronger.

"I'm almost there," Aspen said through the phone as if he could tell what I was doing. "Don't go near him."

"But-"

"It'll only make it worse if he sees you. Just stay out of this."

"But he-"

"Vince," Aspen's tone was firm, a clear warning. "I'll handle it. Stay outside."

I huffed before ending the call, shoving my phone in my pocket. Looking around the living room of his home felt so strange. The kitchen I had once longed to be in now an eerie, dust-covered place devoid of life. Instead of the cheerful laughter and bright energy, the kitchen felt like a haunted graveyard. And looking at the living room only made my breath hitch. Toddler's toys were lying around, a couple of colored blocks, a yellow dump truck, even a playhouse that had small dolls next to it. Had it not been for the years of dust, it looked like a kid could have been in the middle of playtime.