Page 31 of Bonding with the Beta (Fated Souls #2)

31

KAYLEIGH

“ A re you sure you want to stay up, Kayleigh? You’re already exhausted as it is,” Evie says as she adjusts her bag on her shoulder.

I hum with a nod. “Yeah. I’m going to read over it a couple more times before I submit it. Make sure it’s perfect.”

Evie huffs out a breath. “Okay, if you’re sure. Don’t stay up too late. It’s already two in the morning.”

“Ugh, don’t remind me.” I flash her a lazy smile before rubbing my sore eyes. “But I’ll head to bed soon.”

“Alright.” She grabs my shoulder and squeezes. “I’ll see you later.”

“Bye.”

When she leaves, I turn back to my laptop and glance around the silent library. I couldn’t stand another second being cooped up in my bedroom. I needed the space to focus, and this essay is easily one of the best I’ve ever written.

I rest my chin on my fist as I read over the essay again despite the throbbing behind my eyes. I want nothing more than for it to be perfect and for Professor Harvey to give me a good grade after my hard work.

My fingers press to the trackpad as I scroll down, and a second later, the screen goes black. I stare back, dumbfounded, seeing my expression in the reflection. I grip the charger and ensure it’s plugged in before tapping the spacebar repeatedly.

It doesn’t boot up again.

“What the fuck?” I mumble to myself.

My fingers move to the on button as a rush of dread shoots through my spine.

No. No. No.

My essay.

I swear if my essay is gone…I’m going to scream until I bleed.

My hands slip beneath my laptop, and I flinch from the heat projecting from the bottom. I bite the inside of my cheek a little too hard, and the taste of copper fills my mouth.

“Shit,” I hiss and continue to press any button.

A moment later, the screen powers back up, and I release a long sigh of relief. I chew on my nail as I wait for it to load up, and as soon as I see the home screen, I rush to my documents folder—except there is nothing there.

My entire laptop has been wiped.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck,” I chant before scurrying between folders, desperate to find any version.

But it’s gone.

Tears gather in my eyes, and I slap my hand onto my forehead.

This cannot be happening.

My paper is due in six hours.

Six fucking hours.

Bile rises in my throat. The essay I’ve been working on for weeks.

I stare numbly at my laptop and then calmly stand from the desk and begin to pace. It doesn’t help the tsunami of nausea that creeps through me. I try my damn hardest not to let the tears fall, but it’s inevitable—they charge down my cheeks without even blinking.

The heaviness in my body begins to give way. My eyes flutter at the sleepless nights I’ve been forcing myself to have, all for this damn essay that has disappeared into thin air.

My fingers knot into my hair as I look up at the ceiling and exhale a distressed cry. “Why the fuck do you hate me?”

I bury my head in my hands and wish I could bury myself in the ground instead. This is not happening. This isn’t my life. This must be some kind of sick joke.

My shaky fingers raise to wipe the tears from my eyes as I reach for my phone. I don’t think. I call the only person I know who could even try to fix this situation. I lift the phone to my ear as I slump against the wall, my knees almost giving out.

“Kayleigh?” Kayden’s voice croaks.

I clamp my eyes shut, guilt swarming me. “Oh my God,” I choke out. “I-I shouldn’t have called you. It’s two in the morning, and you were asleep. I’m so sorry, I–”

“Kayleigh.” Kayden’s tone changes, sounding awake and alert. “What’s wrong?”

“I shouldn’t have called, I–”

“Tell me what’s wrong. Right. Now.”

I suck in a sharp breath. “My work,” I murmur. “My whole laptop has been wiped, and I don’t know what to do. My essay is due in six hours, and it’s gone, and I need it back. I’m not going to be able to finish it in time.”

“Okay, okay,” he says loudly. “It’s fine. We can fix this.”

“How?” I sniffle. “I don’t know what to do.”

“I’m coming over.”

My heart stammers at those three words. “Wait,” I whisper. “No. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have called. I’m just–”

“Blondie,” he says, and I can hear rustling in the background as if he’s putting on his clothes. “I want nothing more than to be the person you call when you need help.”

I chew on my lip, my stomach flipping like a rollercoaster. “Even at two in the morning?”

“Even at two in the morning. I’ll be there as soon as I can, okay?”

“Okay. Thank you.”

I end the call and pack up my belongings before heading out of the library and dragging my limp body back to my dorm room. There is a glimmer of hope in my gut that he can fix this, but what if he can’t?

This essay was the one to help bring up my grades.

When I open the door to my room, I almost cry again at the state of it.

Who have I become since being a student? Some days, I despise myself.

I tidy up the mess to distract myself from overthinking and wondering if my work will be salvageable or if I’m totally screwed.

At the knock on the door, I leap off the bed with unleashed energy. I open it to find Kayden wearing a white T-shirt and grey sweatpants.

It takes me a second to glance over him, and I’m washed with contentment. Even if he can’t help, I’m relieved he’s here.

“You came,” I whisper.

“You called, blondie, and I’d never let you down.”

His eyes roam my face, and he frowns before stepping forward and wrapping me up in a hug. The sob that has been choking my chest releases, and I cling to him, burying my head into his neck.

“Have you slept these past few days?” he says as he pulls back and holds my face between his hands.

My gaze lowers when I find him studying the dark circles beneath my eyes. I shrug and attempt to pull away, but he doesn’t release me.

“You need to take better care of yourself,” he whispers.

“I’ll live.”

“I’m being serious, Kayleigh.”

I eventually remove myself from his grip. “I’m fine,” I say. “Nothing I can’t handle.”

Kayden’s eyes strain as he stares back at me. I don’t need to be a mind reader to know he’s not taking my bullshit excuses. “I brought you this,” he says as he reaches into his sweatpants and pulls out a bottle. “It’s meant to help with calmness and sleeping.”

My brows twitch. “From where?”

“I made it at home earlier today. I thought you’d like some. Now, go and sit on your bed and enjoy the drink whilst I find your work,” he orders as he shuts the door and walks to my desk where my laptop is sitting.

My mouth turns dry at the sweet gesture, telling myself not to cry again over a drink. I’ll blame my monthly cycle that’s coming up and royally fucking me in the ass.

“Do you think you can fix it?”

“I can try,” he says as he perches on the chair.

I nod and keep quiet. I sit on the edge of the bed, undo the lid of the bottle, and raise it to my lips. The burst of cherries makes me hum, and I close my eyes at the sweet taste.

My fingers claw at the bed with anticipation, but I keep my lips zipped.

Kayden’s fingers tap away at the keyboard, and I pray no news means good news . Right?

I sip on the drink until it’s almost gone, and as the seconds tick by, my nausea grows. The time on my phone is taunting me. Only four and a half hours until it’s due.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Kayden stands, and I brace myself as he grabs my laptop and approaches me slowly. I freeze as he faces the screen towards me, a soft smile on his perfect lips.

“This what you lost?”

I’ve never moved so quickly. My eyeballs almost snap.

But right there is my document.

I raise my fingers to click on it, and my four-thousand-word essay appears.

For a moment, I almost fall to my knees as I jump up and wrap my arms around his neck. He carefully manoeuvres the laptop around me and chuckles into my ear as I release a fresh stream of tears.

“Oh my God,” I blubber. “Thank you, thank you, thank you!”

I never want to let him go.

I don’t know how I’ll ever repay him for this.

Kayden’s free hand runs up and down my back soothingly. “Submit the damn paper before you lose it again,” he says into my hair.

I nod furiously as I pull back and reach for the laptop before submitting it.

“I owe you big time.” I slump back onto my bed as he perches beside me.

“You don’t owe me anything.”

Kayden’s hand raises as he pushes back my hair gently. “I’m sorry you came all this way,” I whisper, “and I interrupted your sleep.”

“I’m not. It’s worth it to see you smile.”

My eyes flick between his, tears threatening to spill again. I lean forward and press a delicate kiss to his lips. “Thank you,” I whisper. “I don’t know what I’d do without you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Do you want to stay?”

Kayden’s dimples deepen as he smiles. “Sure.”

I change into my pyjamas as he strips out his clothes altogether until he’s in his boxers. We both slip under the covers, and he entwines our fingers together. I snuggle into his side. My lips graze his collarbones as I look up at him.

“Sometimes, I wonder what I do to deserve you coming into my life,” I admit.

Kayden presses a kiss on my forehead. “I wonder the same thing.”

We stare at each other for a long moment, and my body glows from the inside out at the way he looks at me.

“I wish you were in my life a long time ago. Everything would have been better.” I whisper.

“I’m in your life now,” he murmurs, fingers tracing my shoulder. “And I don’t plan on going anywhere.”

I close my eyes and exhale when contentment takes over my body.

“Get some sleep,” he says.

“Goodnight, Kayden.”

“Goodnight, blondie.”