I cupped the sides of his face and kissed him.I am not upset, I signed. Because really, Iwasn’t.
He sighed. “Good.” He then playfully tapped the box he was holding, against my forehead. “I’d planned on taking you to dinner tonight before giving this to you, but…” He opened the box and turned it around so that I could see what was inside. “Here you go; I hope you like it.”
I looked down, and gasped when I saw what Myles had gotten me.
It was a flat, fluorite-studded bracelet made of white gold. It was chain-like, and glinted brightly against the sunlight streaming into the house through the slightly open kitchen window.
I licked my lips and looked at Myles.It is beautiful, I signed.Very beautiful.
He smiled. “I’m so happy you like it,” he said. “I was worried you’d think I was being a materialistic bastard by giving you something pricey, but I’m glad you don’t. Here,” he took the bracelet out of the box and handed it to me, “flip it over.”
I ran my thumbs over the flat fluorite pieces etched onto the front of the bracelet, then turned it around, only to suck in a breath after reading what was carved on the smooth surface of the jewelry.
YOU ARE MY SANCTUM.
My eyes stung as I brought them back to Myles, who was still smiling at me.
I love you so much, I signed.
“And I love you,” he answered, then took the bracelet from me. “Now, let’s see if this even fits you.” He dangled it between us and winked at me.
I gawked at him.Seriously?I signed, then pushed at his chest before stomping away from him.
What an asshole.
“Rina!” There was regret in his voice, but it did nothing to soothe my anger. “Baby, I’m sorry!”
I heard him following me as I raced up the stairs and into the storeroom.
“Rina, wait,” he urged. “Please.”
I walked into the room, my back to him.
“Rina! Listen to me, you stubborn woman. The flooring in there is fucked; slowdown.Please.”
I put my left foot forward, but then set it down so that I could turn around and face him.
And that’s when it happened; that’s when I realized the full scope of Myles’s warning.
I swiveled, not realizing that my sneaker was pressed next to a jagged piece of tile. My body shifted, but my foot refused to, and I felt a sharpcrackin my right ankle. The pain that shot through me right after that – it wassofucking blinding that I wanted to throw up.
I heard Myles calling my name, but it sounded more like an echo in my buzzing ears as my body fell forward against the debris-strewn floor. I managed to bring my hands in front of me, so my palms ended up taking the full impact, and not my face.
Scared – I wassoscared. And hurt. And…
My God,everything was hurting. Every damninchof me.
I looked at Myles, who was standing at the room’s entrance, completely ashen-faced, his eyes wide.
I sniffed, and realized that hot tears were sliding down my cheeks and onto the harsh ground. I tried to shift again, but before I could sign something to him, or even make a gesture of some sort, something heavy fell on me from behind. Fell strongly against my back, my thighs.
My already broken ankle.
That’s the moment it ripped out of me: a scream so sudden, so loud, that it not only shocked Myles further, but also threatened to pull me under against the weight of my pain, and of my fear.
How the hell had things gotten so out of hand in a matter of seconds?
Just…how?
