Page 39 of The Ruined

“Christ.”

“I never told you this.”

“Got it,” I mutter.

I rinse our glasses and start the dishwasher after Chase heads into the kitchen just after ten.

My phone buzzes on the bar and I reach for it, sliding it open.

Charlie: Hey.

Shutting off the water, I call back to my brother that I’m heading upstairs and don’t wait for a reply.

I’m at her door in less than two minutes, giving it a quick knock before turning the knob and cracking the door slightly. “It’s me. You decent?”

“Noah?”

I push it open and step inside in a panic. Charlie is sitting up in bed. Almost exactly as I left her hours ago. Still in those lavender stripe pajamas. “Are you alright?”

“Y-yeah. Why wouldn’t I be?”

“I thought you needed help. Do you need to get to the bathroom?”

Her eyes are alert with no hint of drowsiness or pain. I scan the surroundings for signs of struggle to walk but nothing’s moved.

She shakes her head in confusion. “What are you doing here? I thought you left hours ago.”

I release a breath and close the door. “I’m…staying tonight.” I don’t tell her I’ll be right next door.

She glances to the side. “Why?”

I hold up my phone, reminding her of her text. “In case you need something.”

Her brows shoot up. “Oh. I was just on the phone with Pepper and she mentioned she likes midnight blue for the bridal party.” She cocks her head with a hard glare.

“Okay…do you…not like midnight blue?”

“No bride picks midnight blue for her bridal party in Spring. She’s clearly trying to appease someone here.”

I press a finger to my chest. “You think I asked her for midnight blue?”

“That’s the color of your sports car. Your suits, your ties, did you mention something to Chase?”

“Hold on. You think that I had a conversation with my brother about wedding colors?”

Her eyes shift to the side. “You’re right that doesn’t make sense.”

I shake my head and step further in. This seems as good a time as ever to let her know this is her last night at the Inn. “How are you feeling?”

“Good.” She scrunches her nose. “Although I have an awful taste in my mouth from chewing a crushed antibiotic earlier.”

I move to the full glass of water on her nightstand and grab it. “So drink more water.”

“I can’t. I’ll have to pee.”

“Drink.” I hold it out for her.

She mutters something under her breath about crawling later and takes it. “Fine.”

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