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Maybe we could have the time and space to see what this would look like.
Me and her.
Us.
Where the fuck are the girls?
“Imma go get them,” I state, heading off toward the second floor. “The food’s getting cold. And somebody find Tommy.”
“I’ll get him.” Rico pushes up from the table, shoving the last bite of his slice in his mouth. “Yo! Tommy!” he shouts, heading off toward the den.
I jog up the stairs, still somewhat lost to the fantasy playing out in my mind while making my way toward J’s room.
“J! Daph! Pizza! Hurry up, or JP’s gonna eat it all…” My words trail off at the sight of the wood splinters littering J’s bedroom, the bathroom door kicked in. Amidst the debris, I notice the faint speckling of red decorating the hardwood floor. Blood.
Swallowing down the bile rising in my throat, I slowly make my way toward her ensuite as visions of my sister lying broken in a hospital bed flash on a loop in my mind. With every step, my heart sinks further into my stomach, as I beg the powers that be not to rob me of the only person I truly can’t live without in this world.
Taking a deep breath, I round the corner expecting the worst—and yet, I’m nowhere near prepared for what I find. Because at this very second, I’ve just discovered J is not the only person I cannot live without.
“NO!” The sound that tears from the depths of my chest slices me open, echoing off the walls as I release a tortured scream.
Diving forward, I slide in beside her unresponsive form, pressing my fingers to the pulse point in her neck. It takes me a second to find it amidst my hysterics, but I’m eventually able to locate her heartbeat. “Oh, fuck!” I cry out in relief. “Thank you, God. Thank you.”
Daph’s face is badly bruised. Combined with the swelling and dark crimson smears currently streaked across her face, she’s borderline unrecognizable. Her hair sticks to the blood in certain spots, making it harder to evaluate the full extent of her injuries.
Too scared to move her, out of fear I’ll somehow hurt her more, I pull my cell from my pocket just as Rico and JP hit the door.
“Daph!” they shout, rushing to join me at my side.
JP bends forward, reaching for her when I spin on a snarl, shoving him backward into the wall.
“Don’t you fucking touch her!”
He slides to the ground, hands raised in surrender while looking to Rico in question. Rico sends him a similar look, clearly at a loss, before both of them return their attention to me. Ignoring their inquisitive stares, I slide my phone to their feet, demanding they call 911. JP hops into action, scooping up the phone and scurrying into the other room to make the call.
“Daph.” I lean over her, carefully brushing the hair from her face. “Daph, I need you to wake up.”
I vaguely register JP’s voice at my back telling me the ambulance is on its way. Though, I don’t bother to acknowledge him.
All I can focus on is her.
All that exists is her.
“Baby.” My voice breaks on a shaky exhale. My thumb continues to brush her cheek, back and forth in a slow steady rhythm until on one of the passes it catches a bead of moisture, trailing it along her skin. I stop just as another lands. And then another. All the while, my hand trembling at the realization of what these are.
Tears.
My tears.
I’m crying.
“Baby.” I sniffle. “Baby, open your eyes,” I plead with her, alternating soft intermittent kisses between her jaw and lips. “Please. I have something important to ask you.” Dropping to the floor alongside her, I press a kiss to the skin of her delicate shoulder before positioning my mouth beside her ear. “Move in with me.”
Daphne stirs, a low groan rumbling within her chest. I pop up, shifting directly above her just as her lids begin to flutter before opening to reveal those emerald-colored eyes I love so much. My breath hitches, the sight of her rendering me completely powerless. Finally, she speaks.
“That isn’t a question.”
My face splits into a wide smile, expelling a sigh of relief. “Nah, demon. It’s definitely more of a demand.”
