Shit.
I want to blame the fact that I'm late on all the wild rollercoaster rides in my life. So much happening has pushed it off, upset my cycle.
But nothing has ever done that. Nothing.
You could set a damn clock to my period.
"It's stress..."
But stress didn't start until later. I should have had my period way before then. In fact, I was feeling pretty damn good about both Alex and Enzo. I wasn't even thinking they were the same person and Enzo was a stalker.
I...
Oh. Boy.
Lyndall knocks on the door. It has to be her, because her brother certainly never does, and it's not like traffic comes through here like it's Grand Central Station or anything.
"Hey, I bought you... Oh."
She walks down the short hall to the bedroom and puts down the bag of McDonald's.
"I see you've got some kind of gross food."
I muster a smile. "I like yogurt and berries, actually."
"Are you sure? It might make you sick."
She dives in and pulls out some kind of breakfast sandwich.
It smells pretty good, actually, but my stomach also turns at the thought of it. Because it smells greasy, rich, and the kind of thing guaranteed to sit heavy.
She takes a huge bite. "Deelish... Uh, what's up with you?"
I don't want to tell her the thoughts in my head. "I don't like being a prisoner."
"You're not a prisoner."
"What do you call this?"
She looks around and jumps on the bed next to me. "Luxury."
"Says the girl who grew up with luxury."
"So did you." She points her foot at me. "And he's protecting you. He's not that bad. Actually, my brother is pretty great."
I keep my thoughts on that to myself. They got us into trouble last time. And now I might be?—
"He's punishing me."
"No, he isn't."
I eat a berry. "Locking me up is punishment."
"Yeah. But I'm not allowed out alone. That's real punishment."
"How?"
"Have you seen the goons?" She shudders. "They are for my 'safety'." She air quotes that.
