Page 55 of Wicked Ruin

Tell me what's going on. I don't like this. If you're flaring up again, the doctor can help, and if you fuck around, Bridget, and I find out⁠—

You’ll what? Stare sternly at me? I’m not yours, Declan. We shouldn’t even be having this conversation

I look at the ceiling for a while, and the nausea does its insistent thing. I press two fingers to the inside of my wrists, the way I used to do early in the day, checking my own pulse, as if that would tell me anything. My hands have that weirdly unsteady quality I remember, like before.

I've been bruising easily. I noticed that right away on one of my forearms, from where I caught it on the center of the kitchen counter three days ago, and I don't like the reminder.

I've lived in this body through the worst of it, and I know what it feels like when things are off. And this—maybe it's nothing. Maybe I just have a little bout of nausea that lasted weeks.

Maybe it's a bad week, and I need more iron, or I didn't get enough sleep, or… something. Maybe it's the stress of knowing that Declan's engaged to somebody I don't know.

Maybe it's nothing.

Finally, with a sigh, I look at his response.

Declan

Just because I’m engaged doesn’t mean everyone else in the world is dead to me

Fine, I know, but you’re getting bossy and it’s not your place.

Declan

How long?

I've just been a bit off; it's probably nothing. I'm keeping an eye on it, okay?

Declan

HOW. LONG.

On and off, okay? I don’t know how long

Declan

You call the doctor tomorrow or I’m driving over. Please.

He doesn't say please very often, not because he's rude, but because he just phrases things in a way that doesn't require it—statements instead of requests. The McCarthys are all like that.

One week later…

Declan

How’d the call with the doctor go?

About that…

Declan

BRIDGET

Listen, it’s easy for you to say call the doctor, okay? It’s another thing when calling the doctor means dredging up things you don’t want to deal with yet. And anyway, I’m feeling better

Declan

How better?

Better enough. How’s the wedding plans