Pulling her up, I resist the urge to take her in my arms. We walk to my room, but I pause. “We can go somewhere else if you want.”
“Here’s fine. I’m not scared, Allegra.”
She’s the strongest woman I’ve ever met.
“Okay,” I respond with hope blooming in my chest.
The cleaning crew have been in and removed any evidence of a scuffle. At least Bonnie won’t have to see her friends’ blood on the floor.
“How is your head?” I ask. She’s got a black eye, which makes me want to reevaluate my stance on letting the other families decide Giani’s fate. I should hav—
“Allegra, stop. I can see your jaw clenching. You’ll have no back teeth if you keep it up.”
“You’re hurt and it’s my fault.”
“No, it’s Giani’s fault. I don’t want you holding that kind of anger in. Please.” She stands in front of me and places both palms on my chest. “It’s over.”
Resting my head against hers, I breathe in deeply. Her scent calms me. “Do you want to talk about it?”
“Not tonight. I’ve already gone over it so many times, I’m exhausted.”
“Then let’s sleep.”
I want to talk to her—ask her if she sees a future with me, but we’re both bone-tired. If I get to sleep next to her one more time, I’ll be happy.
We slip under the sheets without a stitch of clothing on and fold into each other. When I wake, I’m alone. The sun is shining and the house is alive with people going about their business. Stretching, my ears hone in on Kelley’s voice outside my room.
“Bonnie, the plane leaves in two hours. Will you get moving? Pete’s getting really annoying. I need you to be my buffer.”
The plane’s leaving in two hours? What plane?
Rolling out of bed, I search for something suitable to wear. I haven’t got time to get dressed up as usual, but I won’t parade around in a silk robe for all and sunder to see. Snagging on a pair of silk sleep trousers and a tank top, I step outside into the corridor. Bonnie’s door is open a fraction. Knocking, I push it open and take in the sight before me.
Large suitcases are open on the bed and they’re stuffed with the clothes I had put in her wardrobes. Bonnie is sitting at the vanity with her arms folded and a scowl on her face. Phillip and Mark busy themselves with her belongings.
“Bonnie?”
“Allegra.”
“We have to go,” Phillip says, his voice icy. “It’s time for Bonnie to come home, where she’s safe.”
Ignoring him, I walk over to her. “You’re leaving?”
She shoots a scornful look over my shoulder and pulls me back to my room.
“They’re not listening to reason,” she begins. “Yesterday terrified them, and now it’s all blowing up. Pop and Dad marched into my room this morning and just started packing. I heard them and went to see what all the fuss was about. I’m sorry I didn’t wake you.”
My mind is foggy with sleep and the aftereffects of yesterday’s stress. “I… Do you want to go?”
She squeezes my hands. “Idoneed to go home. But I wasn’t expecting it to be like this.”
I want to tell her to stay for a little while longer. I’m not ready to say goodbye. Everything is happening too fast.
“Can I call you?” How pathetic.
“Of course you can. I’d be upset if you didn’t. And maybe when they’ve calmed down a bit, I can come back and visit. Or you can come to me.”
Her tone and words aren’t aligning with how I thought she felt. This seems so final; like two friends saying goodbye, promising to keep in touch but never following through.
