And then there’s another sound at the door.
“Knock, knock.” Lissa strides in, fresh and perfect and smiling. Her hair’s pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and she’s carrying an arrangement of roses and lilies that’s twice as big as Auden’s.
More like a funeral arrangement, I think uncharitably.
I feel small and dirty and stinky, like a tiny gremlin. Meanwhile, Lissa’s elegant and beautiful.
“Lissa.” Robbie frowns at her. “I thought I said?—”
“You did,” she admits. “I was going to wait for later. But I was so worried about both of you. And I wanted to get you a little something from us, Ames.” She lifts the vase higher.
Theusgives me a stabbing pain worse than my fucking collarbone and causes the betraying asshole of a heart monitor to tick up.
“Th-thanks,” I manage. “Nice.”
Robbie looks like he’s literally biting his tongue.
“I don’t think we’ve met,” Lissa says to Auden. “I’mthis guy’sfiancée.” She runs a hand through Robbie’s hair, messing up the strands I already messed.
My good hand clenches in the sheets.
“Oh, I’m Auden,” he says shyly. “Ames’s… kinda… boyfriend, I guess?”
Robbie catches my eye and raises an eyebrow. I don’t squirm, but only because it would cause me intense pain.
Meanwhile, Lissa’s smile’s brighter than the Vegas Strip. “Oh my god! How amazing. And what lovely flowers.” She sets her own bouquet on the windowsill directly next to his, where it blocks out the light like a sequoia next to a sapling.
Auden ducks his head. “Not as nice as yours. But on our first date, I said how much I loved sunflowers, and Ames said he really loved them too, so I thought…”
Robbie’s gaze is still locked with mine, and he narrows it slightly. It’s a look that says,We both know tulips are your favorite flower.
I shoot him a glare that means,I was trying to find something in common.
He rolls his eyes minutely.Dumbass.
“Ames, I’m so glad you have someone who knows you so well.” Lissa moves to Robbie’s side and drapes herself against his arm like she owns it. Which I guess she does. Or soon will. “It’s the best feeling.”
I shift to sit up straighter, forgetting for a second that I’m not allowed to do that, and bite back a whimper.
“Ames,” Robbie chides, rushing to adjust my pillow.
Auden rushes to do the same on the other side, and the two men end up in a brief pillow tug-of-war that Robbie wins.
Kill me now.
“Rob,” Lissa says with a laugh. “You’ve been here all night, sweetie. Why don’t you let me take you for an early lunch?”
He shakes his head once. “True’s bringing me coffee. I’m good.”
“I meant,” she says in a stage whisper, “why don’t you let Ames have a minute with hisboyfriend?”
Robbie looks at me, then at Auden. “Ames might need help getting up.”
“I can help,” Auden says, cheerfully ignoring how physics works. “I’m stronger than I look.”
“I—” I begin, then stop.
Auden’s looking at me expectantly. Lissa’s tugging Robbie’s arm.
