Nick smiles, deeply satisfied. “Never.”
“Can I leave you in his hands?” Ray asks looking him over shamelessly from head to toe.
I wave him away and sit back down. I hear the door close and I sigh in frustration. I know I’m not going to be able to get away from any of them.
“Wow, we’re not doing so great,” he says sarcastically, sitting on my bed and invading my space.
“Why are you here, Nick?”
“I have to take off for a few days: but before I do, I wanted to speak to you. I’m worried about Ian. I don’t want him to end up like me.”
“I don’t get it.”
“Alone, a cynical arsehole.”
I snort with derision.
“He was never like me. He’s always managed to do good things. He’s nowhere near as tough as he pretends to be,” he says, smiling and shaking his head. “He’s got a big heart, Riley. He never would have hurt you intentionally. Ian’s not capable of that, believe me.”
“I don’t know. The truth is that I just don’t trust him,” I say, as I slide out of bed but my head is spinning, pushing me back down.
“You’re really rough,” he comments.
“I just—” I can’t finish the sentence because a sharp pain in my stomach bends me in two.
“Riley,” Nick helps me to lie down again. “How long have you felt like this? Don’t you think we should call a doctor?”
“A week,” I reply, trying to take deep breaths. “Maybe two.”
Nick takes the phone out of his pocket. “I’m calling someone.”
“No, there’s no…” but another fit makes me shout.
My body goes tense, the pain expands and then, nothing.
