I sit up slowly and listen. There are no voices, no laughter... Nothing. Something is wrong.
I swing my legs over the side of the bed and wince as my bare feet hit the cold floor. I'm wearing Mikey's shirt now since he had to take the hoodie. It hangs off my shoulder and is down to my knees. I clench it tighter around myself and step into the hallway.
The penthouse feels different in the daylight.
It's clean and open.
A whisper of voices comes from the kitchen, not arguing, but also not calm.
"She doesn't know," Mikey says. "And she can't. Not yet."
My breath catches. Are they really trying to hide shit from me again?
Kai sighs, and I can picture him rubbing the back of his neck to try to ease the tension. "She's not stupid. She will pick up that something’s off the minute she wakes up."
Mikey doesn't deny it.
My pulse is loud in my ears now.
"I just... I don't like how quiet he was," Kai says. "He's waiting for her."
I take a step back before I can stop myself, and the floor creaks softly beneath my foot.
Both voices cut off, and two sets of hazel eyes snap toward me.
"Julia?" Mikey calls.
There it is... the softness and concern in his voice. Like he is trying to bubble wrap me and make sure nothing in the world is wrong.
I step into view and force my face to be neutral even though my insides are shaking.
"Morning," I say quietly, walking into the kitchen to the coffee maker.
I can feel Kai's eyes on me, studying me to search for any cracks in my armor.
Mikey stands, slowly... and I see it instantly, more bruises.
My breath stutters. "What happened to you?" I ask.
Mikey opens his mouth, then shuts it.
Kai cuts in. "Practice was rough."
I look between them, as the heat blooms behind my eyes, I can feel the anger stirring, "You're lying."
"Julia--" Mikey says, sounding completely defeated.
"No," I interrupt, hugging the shirt tighter to me. "Don't. I can feel the tension. I can tell there are secrets you're not telling. The wayyou're both acting like I might break if you just fucking tell me the truth. It's fucking bullshit."
Neither of them speaks, and that's answer enough.
My stomach twists painfully. "Is this about my father? Is that what I can't know yet?"
Mikey's shoulders sag, and Kai swears under his breath.
There it is...
I swallow hard, but my voice shakes despite every effort I try to keep it steady. "You don't get to protect me by shutting me out, not after everything that we talked about last night."
