Page 86 of The Knockout

I lean my head against the wall and close my eyes. “Is Ares back from Maine yet?”

When she doesn’t answer, I force my eyes back open and see the answer on her face. “Oh.”

“Have you tried calling him?”

I’d probably cry if I had any fluid left for my body to expel.

Reading my mind, she cracks open a bottle of water and hands it to me. “Tiny sips, Grace.” She takes it back from me once I stop and sits it on the edge of the tub. “He’s been home for a few days.”

“Oh.” It’s all I’ve got in me.

“Lift your arms, sweetie. I changed my mind. You need to get out of this shirt.”

I don’t bother arguing and lift my arms as far as I can, then wrap them around my knees.

Brynn takes the hand shower wand and washes my hair, then rinses off my body.

Everything hurts. My head. My heart. My body.

“I decided not to take the job,” I whisper. And she stops what she was doing. Shocked.

“Really? You turned them down?”

I nod without opening my eyes. “I don’t want to dance anymore.”

“When was the last time you wanted to dance, Grace?”

Why did she have to ask me that?

“Honestly . . . I don’t remember.”

Brynn unplugs the tub and grabs me a towel. “Why don’t you dry off, and I’ll change your sheets.”

“Brynnie...I’m sorry.I’m sorry I didn’t listen to you. I’m sorry I took you for granted. I’m sorry for everything. I promise to take better care of myself. Please don’t be mad at me anymore. I promise I’m trying. But I might need your help,” I practically plead, so damn tired of not having my best friend.

She wraps the warm towel around me and helps me stand. “We might have loves of our lives out there waiting for us,Gracie. But the five of us—me, you, Evie, Lindy, and Kenzie—we’re soulmates. We’ll always have your back. I’ll always want what’s best for you. But I’m done standing by and watching you hurt yourself. So you better be good with tough love.”

I rest my head on her shoulder and stand, dripping on the tile floor. “Can we start tough love when I don’t feel like I’m dying?”

“How about we wait until you no longer look like you’ve got chicken pox from all the broken capillaries on your face? Seriously, how much have you thrown up?”

“It’s been days,” I croak out and reach for the water to take another sip.

“I’m sorry. If I were here, I’d have known.”

“Where were you?”

“That’s a whole other story.”

By the next day, I feel better.

Not great.

But better.

Brynn got enough water, ginger ale, and chicken soup in me to help me at least feel more human again. Then she threw me in shorts and a t-shirt, put slippers on my feet, and told me we were going outside. “Come on. It’s beautiful out. You need some vitamin D.”

“I’m not ready to see anyone yet. I’ve got to prep myself to talk to Mom and Evie before I can tell them I turned down the job.” I know it’s coming. I know I need to talk to them about that. About Ares. About all the important things in my life, but a little more energy would be good for that conversation.

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