That day was different. It was blatantly obvious I was exhausted, but he didn’t seem to see or care, and the way he was talking to me, laughing and mocking, I hated it.
The realisation that the man holding me was not the one I knew, started to panic me and I tried to get away from him. I didn’t think he would hurt me. I knew no matter what Kyle would never harm me, but I didn’t like him touching me when he was acting so cold and unfeeling. It just felt wrong and took me to a dark place I never wanted to associate with the touch of my guys.
He held on, likely thinking I was still trying to master the move he taught me, but I wasn’t. I just needed some space to breathe!
“Kyle! Let go right now!” I cried desperately. He obviously heard the tremble in my voice, because he instantly released me. I backed away from him quickly, walking all the way back until I hit the wall. Grateful for the support, I leant back against it and fought to calm my panic response.
“What’s wrong?” Kyle asked, stood stock still where he had been before.
“Me? What the hell is going on with you? You’re being a total dick this afternoon!” I snapped, unable to hold it in.
“I’m trying to train you, so you can actually protect yourself if it ever comes to it.” He returned, that smug smile on his face again. This was a version of Kyle I really didn’t like.
“I know that, and normally I like training with you, but today you’re just being an ass Kyle! You’re laughing at me, and you haven’t even noticed I’m so damned tired I can barely lift my arms! You just keep pushing!” I was yelling, because I was seriously pissed and needed him to know, so he’d drop the whole asshole act he had going on.
Finally the smug smile dropped from his face and he seemed to really look at me for the first time since I walked into the house. He studied me hard, then deflated before me.
“Fuck!” He yelled, startling me. The shout had come from nowhere, and I couldn’t help but cover my ears.
Kyle watched me as I did it, then I saw his mouth move, likely with more curses judging by the look on his face. He hit out, landing a punch on the wall to his right, the plaster cracking under his fist and blood spurting.
“Kyle!” I cried as I flinched at the violence of the move. He glanced at me, his face filled with pure, raw agony. I moved my hands from my ears and readied myself to go to him, to find out what was wrong and do all I could to fix it, but he turned away and just ran, leaving a trail of blood in his wake.
“What the hell?” I whispered to myself. My body was shaking, the violence having brought on an automatic rush of adrenaline. I was just so confused. What on earth had made Kyle act that way? Whatever it was, I knew it had to be bad.
Needing to help him, I gathered my scattered thoughts and hurried from the gym on jello legs. When I got to the entrance hall I paused, trying to decide where he had gone, then I heard a huge crash from upstairs and knew it was him. It sounded like he was smashing up his room, and if I was honest, I was a little scared by the outburst.
Instead of heading right up there, I ran to the kitchen to look for Matt, but he wasn’t back yet. Worried, and knowing I needed to act quickly, I grabbed my cell from where I had left it on the counter, and dialled Kade. If anyone would know what was wrong with Kyle, it was Kade.
“Hi Love.” Kade greeted, and his voice calmed me some, even hearing just those two short words.
“Hey Kade. Sorry to bother you at work.”
“You could never bother me. Are you ok?” He asked, seeming to have sensed something from what I had said.
“Not really. It’s Kyle. Do you know if something bad happened with him today?”
“Not that I know……” Kade drifted off for a moment, then came back. “Shit! Sorry, Love, I just realised it’s Reece’s birthday. What with the kidnapping, I forgot all about it. Is he being a dick? Probably best to just let him be today.”
“I….I think I messed up, Kade. He asked me to train with him, but he was being a total douche, and when I called him on it, he flipped.”
“Flipped how?” Kade asked more urgently.
“Well, he yelled, and I freaked, like I do. That just made him madder and he punched the wall. Now he’s upstairs and I…..I’m pretty sure he’s smashing up his room.”
“Fuck! Ok Love. This is nothing you did. I want you to just stay away from him for now. I’m on my way home, and I’ll calm him down. Is Matt there?”
“No. He went for groceries. It’s fine Kade. I know Kyle’s mad, but he would never hurt me.”
“I know, You’re right, but when he gets mad there tends to be carnage, and I don’t want you getting caught up in it.”
“I won’t. I’m just worried about him, Kade. He looked so lost when he walked away.”
“He’ll be alright. It’s just a bad day for him. I’ll be home soon and we’ll all help him. Just sit tight for me, ok?”
I agreed and hung up, but there was no way I was sitting downstairs while one of the men I loved was above, bleeding and his heart breaking.
I left my cell on the counter and moved up
