Page 26 of Hidden

Ruined now.

Funny how fast that goes.

“Open your eyes, Hadley,” his voice is quiet almost pleading.

Maybe that’s why I open them.

He’s on his knees on the locker room floor. His pants still open. The button gone. His shirt still on, still stained with gods know what. And he hasn’t a care in the world.

He’s looking at me like I matter. Like I mean something.

“Don’t look at me like that.” Tears well in my eyes as I try to get my feet steady under me. I blink them away before a single drop can fall.

“Like what?” The question comes from behind me. Confirming what I already knew.

Enzo is holding me tight to his chest. A forearm barred across me, his wrist resting on my sternum, his fingers spread across my neck.

He holds me like I might bolt. Smart man. The urge is right there. My legs have already drafted the exit, they’re just waiting on management to sign off.

It’s moments like this I forget how to be a person. Like someone handed me the script for Human Woman, Post-Coital, Dignified and I skipped the rehearsal. How do I even begin to face what just happened?

“Leif?” I question, my throat scratchy and dry.

“Here.” The third member of their trio steps into the dim locker room light, to my left.

“Oh, great. The whole set.” I draw the words out and throw an elbow back into Enzo. A real one. For half a second, I’m loose, and step toward the door under my own power before his arms close again. But he had to catch me. That’s new.

“I…” want to close my eyes and pray the floor opens up under me, because if I have to talk about my feelings I’m going to get violent. “I need to check on Callie. So if the three of you could uncrowd the exit.”

I’m a terrible friend.

“We need to talk, Hadley.” Leif walks over in his pristine black suit. He stops beside the man on his knees. “Davi.” He reaches a hand down, and Davi slips his fingers into his.

Oh.

Oh.

I read that all wrong.

Davi smirks like he’s got front-row seats to whatever’s happening behind my face. I really wish he’d stop. I really wish he’d do it again.

“How are you feeling?” Leif asks me carefully, still holding onto Davi’s hand.

“Confused. Sticky. Reconsidering every decision since roughly the third grade.”

Enzo wraps his other arm around me, tighter. Every time the room gets heavier his grip answers in kind. Like he’s the one about to come apart and I’m what he’s holding onto.

I try not to inhale him. The spice of him. I fail, obviously. I’ve been failing at the bare minimum all night, why stop now. And I try not to notice the way his breathing regulates the tighter and longer he holds me.

“What is this?” Not a question so much as a demand. “And don’t say complicated.”

“Your period, Hadley.” Leif doesn’t ask, not really. He just lets the question sit there.

If he wants to talk about women’s issues, then. Fuck it.

“I’ve never had a period, Leif.” Anger spikes in my veins. Sharp, fast, hot. “Not. One.” The words come out flat now. Because long ago I buried my barren emotions. “The doctors don’t understand.”

Enzo goes still behind me. The arm across my chest stops being a restraint and starts being the only thing holding me up.