The sign for weird always makes me smile. When Daria learned the sign, she would always make a silly face that got her teacher and me to laugh. “How so?”
“The guy created his art out of human bones. They’re fake. But they look so real, it’s eerie.”
A shiver runs down my spine. “Gross.”
“Yeah. Knight didn’t take any of the work on consignment, even though he said it would probably sell very well. Shock art and all that. But it felt twisted to me.”
“Because there isn’t any beauty in death.” Just pain, loss, and guilt.
“That’s exactly what Knight said.”
There’s a knock at the door.
Daria turns to me.“That’s Knight with the food. Are you sure you want him to stay? He won’t mind.”
All I want to do is curl up in a little ball and veg in front of the television. “Of course I want him to stay.”
She shakes her head as she walks to the door.
Daria always knows when I’m thinking about others rather than myself. She’s probably letting me get away with it because she’s afraid to trigger me more. She opens the door, and Knight steps in.
The smell of Chinese food fills the room. My tummy rumbles. Have I eaten anything today? Usually, I munch on something after the last rush, but I missed that today.
As good as the food smells, the man carrying it smells and looks better. A slim-line brown leather jacket over a black turtleneck and slacks fit his tall, lean body all too well. There’s something lurking under that sleek exterior of his, but it doesn’t stop me from knowing he’d protect Daria with his life.
“Fea came home for lunch. Isn’t that wonderful?”The smile on Daria's face doesn’t quite cover the worry she’s feeling.“You can put the food on the coffee table and sit down next to Fea. I’ll be right back.”Daria dashes off to her bedroom.
Knight sets down the food and peels off his coat. It’s a very pretty sight with all those long, lean muscles highlighted. I would have thought he was a runner if I didn’t know how much he hates it. Knight’s body was built on learning to fight…to protect himself, even though living on the streets, he would have commanded top—Stop letting that guy get in your head.
Your life isn’t that anymore.
You’re safe.
He stops moving and stares at me. “You okay?”
No.
No, I’m not. “Fine.”
He grins. “You’re a terrible liar.”
I shrug, which causes my arms to slide against the raw skin of my sides. A groan almost slips out.
Why did I do this to myself again?
Never again. How many times have I said that? “When a woman says fine, it can mean any number of things.” But it never means that she actually is fine.
Knight suddenly sits down next to me. “Do you want to talk about it?”
NO! I shake my head.
“Daria’s worried about you, isn’t she? That’s why she disappeared into her room.”
Probably.
“That or she’s trying to play matchmaker.”
“WHAT?” I squeak.
