He huffed a sad, quiet laugh, head sagging between his shoulders as he shook it. “I’m not even remotely functional right now, Sarafina.”
“I have awful nightmares.” I murmured, staring at the cabinets in front of us.
“I can hardly sleep at all.” He countered, suddenly grabbing my hand.
When I finally looked over at him, I realized his face was tear-streaked, and I squeezed his hand,hard, as silent tears streaked down my own cheeks.
I didn’t see an end in sight, but knowing we at least had each other, suddenly made everything feel the tiniest bit more bearable.
CHAPTER 15
Birthday Cake and Chocolate Shakes
CARTER
“Open sesame.” I knocked again, but nobody answered, leaving me standing in the hallway outside Liam’s penthouse, juggling a duffle bag full of sand in one hand and amassivebag of Sour Patch candy in the other. As I reached for my phone, my bag slipped off my shoulder, hitting the floor with a solid thud, and just then, the door inched open.
When I finally looked up, the breath whooshed out of me as I stared into the deep brown eyes of the girl I’d been dying to see for months now. Only her eyes weren’t alive and sparkling with mischief like the last time I’d seen her—they were hollow and gaunt, and I realized with utter devastation that she waswaytoo thin.
“Happy birthday.” I chimed, my heart beating a mile a minute while I processed her far too emaciated appearance. “Alas, Sour Patch.” I murmured, the words nearly dying on my tongue as I held out the candy, trying to school my features.
“Hi?” Sara said, a little perplexed, though a smallalmostsmile tugged at the corner of her wan lips, and then she shot a look over her shoulder. “Please tell me you didn’t plan anything for my birthday.” She complained to Liam, who had a sneaky grin plastered across his face.
“Okay, I didn’t plan anything for your birthday.” Liam put his hands up in fake surrender.
“Liar.” I coughed under my breath, throwing Sara a wink.
“Yeah, okay, maybe I planned alittlesomething,” Liam confessed, pinching his fingers in the air for emphasis.
“Liam, I seriously do not have the energy.” Sara complained, and looking at her—I believed her.
“Don’t worry, we won’t make you do a damn thing unless it involves fun.” I promised cheekily, realizing she still hadn’t smiled, not really. I pulled her into a hug, being careful not to crush her small frame. “Good to see you too, by the way. Absolutely incredible hospitality.” I said with dry sarcasm.
Liam waved me inside with a shake of his head and closed the door behind me as I shuffled forward, still embracing Sara. It was her birthday, so I supposed I could get away with an extra-long hug, but I decided not to push it, and let go a moment later.
“You two are unbelievable.” Sara rolled her eyes, and I caught the tiniest glimmer of something alive in there.
Liam took my duffel bag off my shoulders, brows shooting up in surprise. “Geez, Kensington, what did you even pack? You might have Gina beat for the heaviest overnight bag.” He didn’t wait for an answer as he continued in a medieval accent. “Come on, good sir, I’ll show you to your quarters.”
“Giddy up, squire.” Sara swung her arm half-heartedly, motioning for me to get a move on, and I swallowed hard, wondering how much weight she’d lost since the last time I’d seen her. Whatever the number was, it was far too much.
I followed Liam down the hallway as he asked, “How was the drive?”
“Long.” Did he even notice? Or was he too preoccupied with his own grief, dealing with his own demons?
“Yeah, I bet. Well, I’m glad you could make this work with your schedule.” He walked into one of the guest bedrooms ahead of me. “I know Sara really appreciates it, even if she doesn’t look like it.”
I peered down the hall, making sure the coast was clear, and then quickly shut the door behind us as he dropped my duffel on the guest bed. Eyes wild, I silently, frantically, motioned to Sara through the door, but Liam spoke first.
He put his hand up, voice low. “I know.”
“She’s fucking skin and bones.” I whisper-shouted.
“I know.” Liam hissed back, the happy smile he’d just had plastered across his face, long gone. “Why the fuck do you think I tried to plan something fun this weekend?”
“Is she even eating?”
“A bit.” He grimaced.
