Page 78 of Coiled Tight

I unlocked the phone regardless, though, tapping on the app with the red circle in the upper corner that would take me to what my old best friend would have to say.

A shiver ran down my spine as the message loaded. I’d only read the first line in the preview, and I couldn’t say the words hadregistered.

soft_and_sweet

You’re a fucking asshole

…

Okay, I needed to get that out of the way

This is not fair. My Domme says I don’t have to text you and like, fuck up all the progress I made

And I *should’ve* kept you waiting even longer, but I was getting a tummy ache, so

Thanks for the nightmares and the confirmation that my ex can and probably did find me, by the way

And like, I mean, I’m sorry you were struggling. Are struggling? I’m not sure

But, yeah, I’m sorry

I’m just confused. Like if something was going on, you could’ve told me. Or if it was too much for you, you could’ve said too

Didn’t you think you could? Was I that much of an asshole? Like I’m not going to apologize for trying to heal from an abusive relationship, but I never wanted to hurt you either

I just didn’t know how to stop doing it myself

And… yeah

I don’t know where I’m going with this, if it wasn’t clear

PS If you take even longer than 24 hours to send proof of life, I will definitely hate you forever and block you everywhere and report all your accounts. There will be no redemption for you or whatever you’re trying to do here

PPS if what you were trying to do was check in on me, I’m okay

Well, I was before your text, but I mean, I’m happy? I have a community that’s just the best and a Domme who loves me and she has two cats and I also have two roommates. They’re ER doctors so I don’t see them much but they like my baking and they’re the ones who got me in touch with a new therapist so I forgive them for not being around as much

I have new stuffies too

twenty-eight

saúl

Cam was sitting on the porch when I came back with Swiftheart to the main house. I hadn’t had anything to do other than checking in on the horses today, so I’d just shared the truck with one of the hands in the morning.

I’d finished up earlier, too, which meant I’d been coming up with plans on how to spend the time with Cam. I’d expected he’d be here unless something had happened.

I hadn’t expected him on the porch, where he never spent any time if there wasn’t someone keeping him there, and cradling his phone like it was both precious and a bomb about to explode on his face.

I jumped off Swiftheart and took the saddle off her back. Gave her a piece of apple, too, before taking her and her things to the smaller stable here. Sofía could complain about it for her check-up next month; she was always telling me I didn’t need to give her so many treats.

Cam either didn’t notice me there or didn’t think to acknowledge my presence. I doubted his mood would have to do with me, with us, but discomfort settled in my gut.

“Wait here, pretty girl.”

Other horses might have kicked up a fuss, but Swiftheart was used to spending the night in the main house. Today, I could feel her unhappy with it, her body shifting in Cam’s direction. I gave her some more pats before leaving her there. I’d see about taking him for a ride to make up for it tomorrow.

Right now, the priority was figuring out what was going on with him.