“Autumn, what happened?” There’s worry in her voice, and I let out a stupid, nervous laugh.
“I—” I take another breath between the laugh and the urge to vomit from the panic crawling up my spine. “I’m not a virgin anymore.” I shrug, wave my hand like it means nothing, and turn around to avoid her stare.
“What?!” She grabs my shoulders and spins me around to face her. “Autumn, with whom?”
I shake my head. “No.”
“No?” She crosses her arms again, like a disapproving mother. “How the fuck did you lose your virginity? You barely know anyone, especially men.”
Unable to contain myself, I laugh again, louder this time. “You know, Icouldget a man on some dating app. I’m not that bad—”
“Sweetie, you’re hot as hell! That’s not what I mean, and you know it. You don’t know any other men besides Declan, Connor, and Kian.” She rests her hand on my shoulder, and I look up at her, seeing the worry in her eyes.
“It was fine, good and fun, Vi. And most importantly, I wanted it. It was my choice.” I give her a smile, but her eyes are still on me, scanning me up and down. Then she stops at my neck, and I freeze.
Shit.
“Is that a bite?” She moves too fast, tugging my sweater down just a bit. “Jesus, Autumn.”
Thenshefreezes. Her hand drops, and she takes a slow step back.
“That motherfucker,” she mumbles.
“Vi?” I stare at her, my heart beating in my throat. She’s always been protective of me, almost since the day we met, and it’s gotten worse in the last month. I think she had sisters once, and somehow, I’ve filled that hole in her life. The little sister she wants to keep safe.
“It wasn’t Kian or Connor!” I blurt, grabbing her arm, searching her eyes.
“Oh, I know that.” Her laugh turns sharp, almost maniacal. “I’m going to kill him.” She spins toward her desk, yanking open a drawer.
“Viviana! It wasn’t Declan!” I cry out, panic choking me, and that makes her stop. She turns back to me and pulls me into her arms. I let the tears fall.
“Oh, Autumn, sweetie,” she murmurs against my ear, holding me tight.
The door opens. She doesn’t move.
“Firecracker?” Declan’s voice comes from the doorway, and I turn slowly. His jaw is locked, his fists tight. His eyes flick between us. “What the fuck happened?”
He takes a step inside, and I instinctively step back from Viviana.
She glances at me, then at him.
“Did anyone do anything?” he asks her, voice low and lethal.
She goes to him, holding his hand. “Everything’s fine. Just… something I need to take care of.” She leans into him, but his eyes stay on me, darker now, like something I’ve never seen before. Is heupset with me? Does he think I did something to her?
“Are you hurt?” he asks, and it takes me a second to realise he’s talking to me. He’s not angryatme. He’s angryforme. Worried. And I can’t seem to form a single word.
“She’s fine. Your friend, on the other hand…” Viviana says, and Declan finally turns to her.
“Friend? Who?” His hand moves to her face, gentle but demanding. “Tell me who hurt her.” His voice drops an octave, cold and deadly.
“Wait! You both need to chill,” I finally manage to say, and they both turn to look at me. “No one got hurt. I did it because I wanted to.”
Viviana stares at me. “With Flynn?!”
Her laugh is dark, and Declan’s hands drop.
“Flynn? As inBrady?” Declan looks completely lost, and I cover my face with my hands.
