I don’t respond.
“I’m not.” She repeats it like she’s trying to convince me. Like she’s trying to convince herself. “I love Easton. He knows that.” Her voice wavers. “Doesn’t he?”
I glance away, but she waits. And waits.
“I don’t know,” I answer honestly. “But I know he loves you.”
Her eyes well up, and I shift and eye my bedroom door in longing. Bridget doesn’t want to have this conversation with me. Not really. I just happen to be the one she ran into while drunk and emotionally unstable.
“You are fortunate, Eva,” she says, which pulls my attention back to her. “As am I. But no one is indispensable.” Her gaze intensifies as it catches on the broken wedding picture still on the floor. “Blink wrong, and you might be thrown into the trash.” She brings her glass to her lips and downs every last drop. “Don’t ever forget that.”
Shadows slide across my bedroom window, slashing the moon with darkness. The windowpane rattles beneath the torrent of wind and rain.
I’ve never feared storms before, but tonight, goose bumps rise on my skin. Every crack of lightning is icy blue eyes, the pitter-patter on the window are his whispers grating in my ears, and the electricity in the air is an unwanted touch crawling down my spine. I slip my hand beneath my pillow, but for the first time, the shard of opal doesn’t soothe me.
What if he’s out there? Looking for me? I’ve already frozen once when attacked. What if I freeze again? What if next time, no one saves me?
I squeeze my eyes shut, stupid and weak. I’m so disgusted with myself the taste of bile burns my throat.
I’m not the same naïve girl I was at thirteen. I’ve buried her so deep she’ll never come up for air.
I’m strong now. Stronger than I’ve ever been. Strong enough to open my damn eyes and face the storm.
He’s not here.
But I don’t listen. My eyes are sealed shut.
Alone in my room, I’m not strong. I’m fucking pathetic.
I’m adirty liar.
My breath escapes in short, quick pants. Each exhale lingers and melds in the air to form a thick, dark blanket. A blanket heavy enough to suffocate me.
Thunder roars, and I bolt upright, my blanket clutched to my chest. My skin’s clammy, forehead cold with sweat.
With the next roar of thunder, I push the blanket off me and move to my door. My hand pauses on the knob, but with the nextcrackof lightning, I push the door open. My bare feet pad across the cool hardwood until I’m facing Easton’s closed door.
The thunder screams, and I cover my ears, but it won’tstop, stop, stop.Hewon’t stop.
Get out, get out.
Get out of me!
I slip into Easton’s bedroom and slam the door as if the action could shut the memories out. I’m panting when I stumble away from his door and whirl around.
Lightning shines through the window, casting sporadic glows over the dark room. Easton runs a hand over his face and sits up in bed. Dark hair messily falling over his forehead, his eyes are heavy-lidded with sleep when he spots me.
“Eva?” He meets my gaze, sits up a little straighter. “What happened? Are you okay?”
I shake my head, trying to hide my trembling hands behind me. As jumpy as I still am, a strange combination of warmth and embarrassment floods me at his protectiveness.
“I’m fine.”
He watches me closely.
“Can I—” I chew my lip, forcing the words out. “Can I sleep in here tonight? With you?”
He doesn’t answer for the longest time. Silence and my nerves stretch in the room. I hadn’t considered the possibility he might say no.What if he says no?
