Page 51 of Pretty Thing

“I’m sorry. I shouldn’t bring this up today. Promise me you’ll be careful. I love you, you’re my best friend, and I don’t want anything to happen to you.”

She grips my hand, just as Felix steps out of the crowd and kneels beside me.

“Are you okay?”

He gives Kris a suspicious look.

“Yeah, I’m okay. Just a tough day, and all of this…” I point to the people. “Is a lot.”

Felix pushes to his feet, and before I even know what he is going to do, he puts his fingers between his lips and whistles so loud that I cringe. Everyone stops moving.

“I’m sorry, but you all need to leave. Eden is tired and wants to lie down.” No one moves. “Leave. Right now,” Felix orders.

“It’s okay, they can stay.”

“No, they need to respect your feelings.” He points to the door. “I said, leave. Get out.”

I reach for his arm as he steps away, but I miss and only get air.

Kris looks at Felix’s back, then at me. She lifts a brow before slowly standing.

“Remember what I said.”

She gives me a sad smile, but annoyance flashes in her eyes before following the crowd to the entry. I catch the same irritated look on Kyle’s face and shock from everyone else.

When everyone is gone, Felix closes the door. He walks toward me, and I try to see him through Kris’s eyes.

“You didn’t have to do that. I’m fine.”

“No, you aren’t. You need to rest. Let me help you upstairs, and then I’ll clean up the mess.”

He reaches for me like he is going to pick me up.

“No. Stop.”

He freezes, brows drawn together in confusion.

“I think you should go too.”

“What?”

“Felix…we haven’t really spent a moment apart since the accident. I need some space to grieve and deal with this on my own. I appreciate what you’ve done for me, but…you’re everywhere, all the time.”

A shadow crosses his face, and he steps back as if I’ve slapped him. Guilt churns in my gut.

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean for it to sound so harsh.”

“No…it’s fine. I really thought I was helping to make things easier for you, but obviously it didn’t come across that way.”

He walks out into the hall and grabs his coat. My heart begins to race.

“Felix…please don’t be angry.”

Grabbing my cane, I stand and limp toward him.

“I’m not angry. I get it. Um…before I forget, the lawyer got back to me. You have an appointment Tuesday at nine. I made sure it wouldn’t conflict with your physio.” He shrugs on his coat and does it up. “He said that he’ll be away three weeks over Christmas and wants to see you before then.”

Once more I’m filled with a strange mix of relief and shock. Felix steps forward and kisses my forehead, and then, just like that, he’s gone, and I’m left alone.