Page 138

“I’m…” I lowered my voice to a mere whisper. “I’m bleeding.”

His expression changed instantly. His eyes went to my hands first, then to my arms like maybe that’s what I meant. Then confusion furrowed his brow when he realized I wasn't bleeding anywhere he could see.

And then the realization dawned ever so slowly across his face.

Instead of responding to me, though, he simply pulled his hoodie over his head.

The movement was quick and somehow nonchalant.

Then he quickly wrapped the sweatshirt carefully around my waist, tying the sleeves loosely at my hip.

“Go change,” he said quietly.

“I’m sorry,” I blurted, horrified.

His green eyes lifted to mine immediately. His response was firm. “Don’t apologize.”

My throat tightened.

I dropped down from the spotting block too quickly, nearly stumbling before catching myself. Heat still burned across my cheeks as I tugged the sweatshirt tighter around my waist.

I couldn't look at anyone.

I kept my head down and walked straight toward the locker room, my heart pounding in my ears the entire way.

CHAPTER 48

After changing into a clean leo and taking some ibuprofen, I forced myself back onto the floor.

Thankfully, no one seemed to have noticed. Or, if they had, no one said anything.

I finished practice as best I could. Rove adjusted my routines, pulling me off the harder skills and replacing them with drills. It frustrated me, but I didn't argue.

I couldn't ignore the pain anymore. So I did the drills, and I gritted my teeth, enduring it.

I'd never been more grateful to hear Vanta dismiss practice.

The second I got back to my apartment, I filled the bathtub with steaming water and dumped nearly a pound of Epsom salt into it.

I winced as I lowered myself in, my muscles protesting every inch of the way.

Eventually, I let myself sink until the water covered my ears. My hair floated around me as the world became blissfully muffled. I closed my eyes.

The warmth didn't erase the pain, but it dulled it, just barely.

I had no idea how long I stayed like that, but it was long enough for the water to grow cold.

The moment the heat faded, the ache came rushing back.

When I finally climbed out, all I wanted to do was crawl right back in.

Instead, I dried off, pulled on an oversized T-shirt, and climbed into bed.

I curled onto my side, my arms wrapped around my abdomen, trying to breathe through the relentless ache.

I knew it was bad when the pain brought tears to my eyes.

I was struggling not to let the tears fall when my phone pinged.