“What?” Felix exclaimed. “He accused you of faking it?”
“Yes. I remember laughing and saying IwishI was faking it. That just irritated him more.”
“I’m sorry,” Felix murmured.
“I didn’t know what to do. When he flat out refused to believe me, I tried another approach. I left early to attend a rush optometrist’s appointment. Told Larry to stay inside that day, because I wouldn’t be able to do my job properly if he left the house. But he brushed it off, thinking I was trying to play hooky or something.”
I shook my head as the visual memories leaked into my mind.
“Did he really have so many enemies that heneededto stay home?” Felix asked.
“In all honesty, no,” I admitted. “At least not any genuine stalkers or paparazzi. The Bisleys weren’t even celebrities, just some wealthy folks. But money warped their brains. That family thoughteveryonewas their enemy. Their paranoia was irrational, and it ran deep. Hell, they were paranoid even towards me--their own son’s bodyguard, who they were supposed to literally trust with their lives. And it reared its ugly head in the end.”
Felix’s voice was laced with concern. “What happened, Elijah?”
I pinched the bridge of my nose as the memories flashed through my mind like a broken slideshow that wouldn’t turn off.
“I went home that day. Took a cab, since I couldn’t see well enough to drive my own damn car. I figured Larry would take my well-intentioned advice and stay put. But he had a party that night. And he justhadto go.”
Felix frowned, his mouth curving into a downward line against my chest. “A party? He never really did anything like that when I lived with him. He was actually kind of a homebody, like he was too nervous to go out.”
My brows raised in surprise. “Really? He must have changed. Guy was a party animal back then. That was part of the reason his parents hired me.” I paused. “But I guess it makes sense, considering what happened to him.”
“What?” Felix sounded genuinely startled. “What happened?”
“He never told you?” I asked.
“No! I barely knew anything about him, other than what my parents told me,” Felix said. “And I guess we never really talked. No meaningful conversations. Just small talk, like two strangers who lived together and had sex.”
I growled. My blood boiled thinking about my sweet Felix in bed with that foul man.
“Youwerestrangers,” I said. “But that wasn’t your fault. In any case, I’ll tell you what happened. He was a fucking idiot.”
Felix winced at my blunt words.
“While he was out partying against my well-intentioned advice, he got himself into trouble. For someone as paranoid as Larry Bisley, you’d think he wouldn’t swallow pills his so-called friends gave him without asking what they were.”
“He did drugs?” Felix asked cautiously.
“The party atmosphere must’ve gotten to him. He was young and stupid, and buckled under peer pressure. I still don’t know what the pills were, but they made him sick.” I sighed. “That day, I got a diagnosis for my condition. Neuromyelitis optica, a degenerative disease that attacks your eyes and sometimes your spine. Even had the doc write it down on a note so I could prove to the Bisleys I wasn’t lying. But while I was getting the worst news of my life, Larry was out there fucking up his body on purpose. Forfun.”
I took a moment to collect myself before speaking again.
“My vision was worsening fast. I made out colors, shadows and light, but things were blurry, like everything was covered in fog,” I explained. “In a time in my life where everything was changing, the Bisley’s home was supposed to be familiar and comforting. But when I walked in to tell them the news about my condition, I knew instantly that something was wrong. The aura was menacing.”
Felix tensed.
I forced myself to get the words out. Even after so long, it still hurt.
“The Bisleys came for me all at once, shouting and screaming. Their voices echoed in that damn marble hallway. I was too disoriented and scared to do anything but let them verbally attack me.”
Felix’s voice broke. “Oh, Eli…”
The images permeated in my mind like stains that refused to fade. I clenched my eyes shut, even though it accomplished nothing. I focused on Felix’s gentle touch on my skin to get past this memory.
“They literally backed into a corner. I had to piece together what happened to Larry, about his sickness, because they were incapable of explaining it like normal people. Larry’s mom shrieked at me, telling me I should have been there for her son. They didn’t care for any excuse. To them, my crime of not being there for their son was unacceptable. They blamed me for everything. When it was clear they weren’t willing to listen, I stumbled outside and never looked back.”
I let out a humorless laugh.
