Chapter 9

9

Abrielle

I drink.

I'm numb.

This Jared guy is annoyed as hell with me as he finishes stitching me up.

"Listen, Colver has nothing to do with this," I whisper. "I mean that. When we were younger-"

"He doesn't need a history lesson," Colver bellows.

Colver bellowing and being a total jerk right now doesn't help the visual of this situation.

"Okay, you're all set," Jared says. He takes his latex gloves off. "You need to keep it clean and bandaged. Stitches should take care of themselves. Any complications… I don't know. Go to the hospital and lie through your teeth."

"I'll never mention your name," I say. "It's Jeff, right?"

Jared isn't impressed.

He stands up.

He and Colver stare each other down.

I can tell Jared is hurt by this situation.

Colver is like ice. No emotion.

Jared slams the apartment door shut behind him.

Colver walks slowly to the door and twists the lock.

"I'm sorry about that," I say. "That I put you and him in that position. Maybe I shouldn't have come here…"

"You fucking think?" Colver growls. "Are you really going to play that card right now, Abrielle? It's too late. You're already here. And you didn't come here to get stitched up for free."

My mouth goes dry.

Really dry.

This is it. The moment of truth.

"I don't know if you think I've changed all that much. I haven't. I don't fucking play games. So what is this?"

My chin quivers. "I'm scared, Colver. I'm scared out of my mind right now. I don't even want to be in this city."

Colver's jaw tightens. "This has to do with a guy. I saw the ring on your finger."

I glance at the annoying diamond ring and my face turns red.

"That's not…" I shake my head.

I close my eyes.

Tears slide down my cheeks.

My arm feels weird from being numb. The drink Colver poured me has my brain feeling warm.

And my life is a total disaster.

"Abrielle," Colver growls. "For fuck's sake. What is happening?"

"I'll just leave!" I yell. "I'm sorry I showed up. You're the same, but we're not seventeen and eighteen anymore. This was a mistake. I just show up out of nowhere and drag you into my life? What is wrong with me?"

My eyes blur as I hurry toward the door.

Colver steps right into my path.

I collide with him and suck in a breath.

His left hand is around my body, touching the small of my back.

I feel like my legs are going to give out again.

"Are you in danger, kitten?" Colver whispers.

"Nobody is going to come look for me right now if that's what you mean. But am I… myself… am I in danger…?"

I don't answer.

I don't want to answer.

"I can see your heart pounding inside your chest," Colver says.

"Can't even keep your eyes up here, can you?"

"You're terrified. I'd offer you a chance to crash here but you're not going to sleep. You're scared out of your fucking mind. Over someone. Someone who hurt you."

Colver reaches for my stitched up arm.

He starts to nod.

"I know it's not like last time because we are-"

"You're right," Colver says. "It's not like last time. Last time I did it without anything in return. This time…"

"You want something in return," I whisper.

Colver just stares at me.

His eyes are like fire the way they burn at me.

My face suddenly feels warm. My body too.

And when I say my body I mean… everywhere.

Even there.

A voice in my head tells me what he wants in return.

I chase it away.

That's just some stupid fantasy crush thing flirting with me.

A million memories ago, that's all.

"Colver, what do you want in return?" I ask.

"Let me know if you have anything to bring with you," he says.

"Bring with me… where?"

"I'm taking you someplace safe for tonight, Abrielle."

Those words sound like heaven to me.

My toes curl tight.

I feel a sense of relief.

I quickly remind myself of who I am in the company with.

It's Colver.

Colver Caspian.

My life is so fucked up that Colver is my savior…?

Getting stitches in my arm is going to be least painful thing I'm going to experience at this time in my life.