“Don’t believe him,” Dominic said before I could. “He totally meant to.”
“No. I so didn’t!”
“Shush. Both of you,” I yawned, wanting to go back to sleep. Or at least I pretend to. I wasn’t ready to leave this bed.
“Yeah, hush it, Zev.”
“Dom….”
“I’ll leave,” I threatened, knowing I wouldn’t.
The both protested instantly, pressing their arms tighter to keep me where I was, despite the fact that I wasn’t even trying to get away. A small smile made my lips twitch.
It was late afternoon when I made my way out of the shower. Dominic had slept off and on, keeping me wrapped in his arms. I ended up waking up, using his chest as my own personal pillow. He didn’t seem to mind, even though my cheeks were tinted red when I peeked up at him.
Zevon left at some point, leaving me slightly chilled.
I woke up when smells from someone cooking reached me from the kitchen. I felt sweaty after my near panic attack hours ago, and decided to take a shower. I left Dominic laying on the bed, playing on his phone.
As I walked back past his room, I realized he wasn’t in there. Worry clouded my emotions as I wondered where he’d have gone. My lungs began to go against me, causing my breaths to come quick.
I let out a relieved breath when I saw him at the kitchen table, cupping a glass of water in his hands while Collin added the last touches to whatever he was cooking.
“Hey,” they both said as I took a seat.
“Feeling better?” I asked towards Dominic, my heart rate slowing once finding him.
“Much. Collin took blood samples, and he’ll test them for whatever it was.”
“Even I know to never leave my drink unattended,” I said.
“Yeah…well…”
“Don’t ever do that again,” I said, giving him one heck of a glare that caused Collin to bark out a laugh.
“I promise,” Dominic said. Then, a moment later, a wide smile lit his face. “You were worried. I feel honored.”
I breathed through my nose, not sure how to reply. Of course I was worried!
“We all were,” Collin said, saving me. “But, I think she beats me and Zevon on that. Next time you want to drink, just do it here.”
“Yeah, yeah.”
“You don’t take orders well, do you?”
“Nope,” he answered me. “Never have, never will. But, I will be more careful next time.”
“You’re lucky Wyatt was there. If he weren’t…”
“I’d have been fine,” Dominic said. “But I do owe him, I guess. We did get to talking, and he knows some of the people around here. No one has seen or heard of an Alan. Only rumors that the missing girl was never missing.” His eyes turned to meet mine. “Apparently, everyone thinks that you were away at some fancy school.”
“Guess it makes a good cover story. Easier than telling everyone what happened.”
“You don’t have to tell anyone anything,” Collin said, setting the food on the table, and then three plates. “It’s your story to tell.”
There was little talk while the three of us ate. I was hungrier than I thought, polishing off a second plateful. It the first time I’d ever eaten so much.
“I thought you couldn’t cook?”
