But why else would someone have Nerezza embroidered on my first baby blanket? I still have that blanket back home. It was one of the few things I packed up and took to New Orleans when my mother died.
“Rez?” Levi rubs my shoulder before giving it a hard squeeze, and I look up to find the room staring at me as if they’ve been calling my name for a while.Oh shit.
“Huh? Sorry,” I apologize. Sitting up straight, I push a strand of loose hair behind my ear.
‘What’s wrong Rezzi-bear? You’ve been comatose this entire time,’Lynx points out, and I just sigh.
‘I don’t even know how to explain it, but I’m here now,’I reassure Lynx as I squeeze Levi’s hand and say thank you. Feeling overwhelmed and needing time to process all of this, I decide to put my personal issues aside and get my head in the game.
“So I guess we might as well get everything out and in the open, huh?” I start.
“What do you mean?” Knots asks, and I’m glad he’s the one asking because I’ve been meaning to address his condition down here in Hell since we’ve found a loophole.
“I mean, we’re in a pickle,” I say, leaning back and moving the picture under my hand and out of sight. Just the thought of it makes my stomach clench. I don’t want to accidentally get a glimpse of it, but I feel Levi and Lynx’s gaze go to it. “Lennox stated that being here is like being back at Purgatory, so you’re not feeling the effects of Hell,” I say, pointing out the facts and hoping my man doesn’t blow up at me.
Knots squints in my direction and clenches his jaw as he shifts his weight. “Rez.” His warning tone is all I need to know that he’s seeing where I’m going.
“Knots. This would be?—”
“NO!” he grinds out and takes a step toward me.
“What’s going on?” Moni asks, shrinking down to her two-inch self and flying around, spreading dark gray dust around the pillows.That’s new. Since when did she become a dark version of Tinkerbell?Chester frantically reaches for her and draws her back to his lap.
“Rez thinks Knots should stay here alone and heal,” Chester tells Moni.
Damn, way to call me out.
I swallow the lump in my throat and try to quickly put myself in his shoes, but I’m terrified. In L.A.M.B.’s residence, we had nochoice, but here…with Lynx’s parents, Knots has a chance to heal and wait it out until we open the portals.
As Knots approaches, I stand up, dropping my picture in my seat and putting my hands up to stop his advancement. If anything, I should be happy that he even has the energy to exert this much without feeling the need to rest.
“Please, Knots. I need you to see it from my point of view, at least, before you completely put your foot down,” I plead with him.
“I’m already feeling better, and you will need me down there, Rez. You are my responsibility.”
“Is that all I am to you?” my voice chokes out, and both of us go completely still. My jaw drops from the words that just spilled from my mouth as I take in Knots’ wide eyes and shocked expression. I’m sure it’s a mirror image of mine.
Where the hell did that come from?Maybe I’m just thrown off from finding the picture. Yeah…that has to be it.
“I…I’m sorry. I don’t know where that came from,” I rush to get the words out.
Knots blinks slowly as he takes one step back and then another.
“Knots, I didn’t mean that,” I say, moving toward him, but he gives me a flat gaze before he turns and quickly walks out of the room.
A sudden coldness hits me in the core as to what just happened clicks.
Shit.
‘KNOTS!’I scream and run after him. I quickly catch him in the hall and step in front of him, blocking his retreat.
“Please,” I beg. Tears start burning behind my eyes as I look up at him and grab his arm. He refuses to meet my eyes, and the muscles underneath my hands are rock hard, proving he’s pissedor more or less hurt. “We need to talk and try to understand each other,” I try once again to make him listen to me.
Before I know it, he grabs my arm and pulls me into the room we’re next to, which happens to be the gym. He drags me to the back corner, where there are free weights and a weight bench, and deposits me in front of it.
“Sit,” he demands, and without question, I plop down with my hands between my knees. Knots begins pacing back and forth while my stomach twists as I watch him run his fingers through his hair.
“I have never been so irate than I am right now.” His words are barely a whisper. I’m not even sure he meant for me to hear it.
