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“You shouldn’t have taken a drink from her, then.” He laughs. “She shows up on your doorstep with a wide smile and an offering? Assume it’s poison. From now on.”
Ugh.
He scans his key fob and hits the buttons for his floor and mine. We ride it up in silence, the doors opening smoothly on his floor. Where Melody most certainly waits for him in their condo, maybe naked. Not that I want to think about my best friend naked.
Speaking of which.
I lean into the opening. “You, me, Melody. Dinner tomorrow.”
Jacob waves me off without looking back, and I smile. I take that as ayes. Which is good, because I really need to ask Melody more questions about Aurora’s book. I still haven’t cracked it open.
The elevator doors close again, and I glide upward. I’m tempted to hit the button forherfloor, but in the end I manage to resist. I’m angry, sure, but there will be time to get revenge. I’ll concoct the best thing I can think of, a mastermind plan of agony for dear, sweet Sunny.
With that in mind, I practically skip out of the elevator and down the hall. Around the corner. My condo is at the end, a corner one with excellent windows on two sides. Aurora’s doesn’t havethat. Hers is nicely decorated, but decoration can only go so far.
But there’s someone slumped against my door.
My brows furrow, my steps slow, until I get closer.
Dark, red-brown hair. A slender figure.
Aurora.
But her face is bruised and swollen, her lip split. There’s blood in her nostrils and chin, and her eyes are closed. Her chest rises and falls shallowly. Her arms are looped around her stomach.
“Sunshine,” I breathe, suddenly rushing forward.
I fall to my knees beside her, not sure where to touch her. God, she looksawful. My hands hover over her, and my fucking stomach knots. This is a lot. I clench and unclench my fists, but she doesn’t magically wake up at my presence.
How long has she been here?
“Aurora,” I try, finally placing my palm on her shoulder and shaking it.
She jerks awake. Her eyes are swollen, nearly shut, and she blindly swings at me.
“Hey, hey.” I catch her wrists as gently as I can. “It’s me.”
Her green eyes, the one with the splotch of blue that seems so much darker lately and her all-green one, burn into me. They seem more vibrant against the reddish-purple color of bruises.
“Knox,” she tries. “I’m?—”
“It’s okay, you don’t have to explain.” I unlock my door, keeping her from falling inward. “I’ve got you, okay?”
Without waiting for her consent, I lift her into my arms. She goes tense for a moment, a groan hissing out through her teeth. I can only imagine what hurts. I need to see it, though. I need a clearer picture. I need to see what they did to her.
I carry her to the bathroom, setting her on the counter and maneuvering her so she won’t fall forward.
“Hold on to me,” I advise. I take her hands and put them on my shoulders.
Her grasp is weak. I sidestep and grab a washcloth, twisting the tap to hot water. Her hand slips around to the back of my neck.
“What are you doing?”
“Cleaning you up to see the damage.” I touch her nose, feeling from the bridge down to make sure it’s not broken. It feels okay, which is good. I’m shit at resetting noses. My mom had to do it to me once, and my coach another time.
No thank you.
She sighs and leans back against the mirror. “I lost a tooth.”
