Sean was propped up in the bed, one eye swollen, lip split, color drained from his face. When he saw me, he tried to smile. That nearly broke me.
I rushed to his side. “Oh my God, Sean. What happened?”
“Guess I should stop letting women ruin my luck.” He winced slightly as he shifted.
Stasia crossed her arms. “This isn’t funny.”
“Sorry,” he said quickly then looked at the clock. “You shouldn’t have come, Ishika. Nothing’s broken.”
I frowned, recognizing the anxiety I knew well, and leaned closer. “Did Remo?—”
“No.” A muscle jumped in his uninjured cheek. “No. Not him.” His eyes flicked to the door, then back to me.
Stasia shot me a look that said she didn’t believe Sean. “What then?”
He glanced between us, embarrassed now. “I stopped at the gas station a few blocks from your place. Just wanted snacks before heading home.”
My stomach tightened.
“There were two guys,” he continued. “One had a gun. Told me to hand over my wallet, keys, phone. I didn’t argue.” He gave a small, humorless laugh. “I’m not stupid.”
“And the injuries?” Stasia pressed.
“One of them hit me when I turned too slow, then both,” he explained. “I think I blacked out for a second. Next thing I knew, someone was calling an ambulance.”
Silence settled over the room. I searched his face for cracks, for fear that didn’t match the story. For anything that pointed back to Remo. Either he was good at acting or he was telling the truth because I found nothing.
“That’s awful,” I whispered.
Sean nodded. “Yeah. Guess it’s not my night.”
Stasia still looked unconvinced. “They didn’t say anything?”
“No,” he replied. “Didn’t even know my name.”
I exhaled slowly, relief and shame tangling in my chest, reaching for Sean’s hand. “I’m so sorry.”
He squeezed back weakly. “Hey. You didn’t do this.”
I nodded, even as a cold tingle slid down my spine because a small, traitorous part of me wondered whether the truth could look exactly like a lie and still be dangerous. For now, though, I chose to believe Sean until he spoke again.
“Ishika, I enjoyed our date, but I think its best we remain friends.” My brow shot the same time Stasia’s did. Sean laughed, soft and uneven. “Not because you’re not a great date but after meeting a man like Remo, I don’t want to step on his toes.”
That tingle became a full-blown tripwire. Without meaning too, Sean had just confirmed what I already assumed. My gaze met Stasia’s, her wordless confirmation followed with a subtle nod.
I brought out my biggest smile. “Sure, Sean, friends.” I gave his hand a gentle squeeze. “Just to be clear though, I’m not dating Remo and he means nothing to me.”
Sean looked at his phone again. “I don’t think he knows that.”
“Well, he’s about to find out.” My hand tightened around my phone, eager for another face off, this time I’d make sure I spilled more of his blood.
thirty-nine
. . .
Ishika– 31 years old
Three days of silence had stretched thin between Sean’s discharge and now, three days of pretending I didn’t know who’d put him in that bed. My vow to Sean went out the door because I had no idea how to contact Remo, much less enter his space.
