Page 59 of Vicious Sentiments

I nod in understanding and she looks at Marney. “That’s why you aren’t going to pester him about Halloween.”

“I won’t!” She puts up her hands. “I was just saying.”

“Mmmhm,” Margo hums and then checks her phone.

I wonder if it’s Julian, if the worry on her face is any indication, even though I think he’s okay. He texted me again to check up on me and I made a point to not tell him about my hands.

* * *

The next day Cape doesn’t come for me, and finally I grow so anxious that I check the workout room. When he isn’t there, I can’t shake my disappointment and spend the rest of the day walking along the beach.

I got the occasional odd look from jogger moms and shirtless old men when they noticed my bandaged hands. I had replaced the gauze myself and did a terrible job, wrapping them too thick so that it looked like I have boxing gloves on.

At least, the beach wore me out to the point where my eyes are closing as I watch another movie with Marney, this time just us. It had to have been rated R and I kept waiting for Margo to come in and scold her but she never did.

When I finally make it back to my room and rest my head on my pillow, I’m anxious. Julian is supposed to come back tomorrow and I still don’t know how to explain what I did to my hands. I also don’t know how I feel about him being suspected of murder for a woman.

All the names toss and turn through my mind with me. I think Ifall asleep for a few hours but in a twilight state. Frustrated, I finally throw back the covers, glancing at the clock. It’s almost four a.m.. Maybe something to snack on will help. There were so many nights where my stomach ached for food and I couldn’t fall asleep, now I’m pretty sure I’m still full from dinner, but I know there’s a pantry full of treats downstairs.

I slip out of bed and go to the door, pulling it open and then I jump.

Julian falls backward at my feet when I open the door. He catches himself and stands. I feel like my cheeks are going to break with how bright my smile is.

“I got an earlier flight,” he says when he sees my face. He straightens his cuffs and clears his throat. His eyes are a little heavy and I think he was asleep.

Outside my door?

“What were you doing?” I ask as he wraps me in a hug, and I’m surprised when I don’t hesitate, stepping up on my tippy toes to reach around his neck. He smells like him, fresh and expensive. I breathe it in, realizing how much I’ve missed it.

“I think I fell asleep,” he says. “Where were you going?”

“You fell asleep outside my door?” I ask.

He makes a sheepish grin but raises his chin. “I missed you. I would have come in but Margo caught me.” He eyes me up and down and then freezes when he notices my hands.

“What the fuck happened?” his voice raises, echoing down the hall.

“Nothing. Nothing. Shhh.” I tug at his shirt, pulling him in my room.

“I leave for three days and you have new wounds?” he growls, grabbing at my hand as I try to shut the door, cringing at the idea of Dillon hearing him.

“It was an accident,” I say, avoiding his eyes.

“An accident?” he scoffs and starts unwinding the bandage once Iclick the door shut.

He’s quick at it, and my heart thumps, trying to come up with an excuse.

“Did you burn yourself?” he questions, and that sounds like a good excuse, but once he sees, he’ll know my hands aren’t burned.

My god, I have nothing as he pulls away the last piece and his jaw drops.

“Hailey….” His eyes are big but his jaw is ticking. “What happened?” He grabs at my other hand, unraveling it even faster than the first.

I try to speak but I don’t know what to say. That his brother let me wail on him? And why? How am I supposed to say I lost my mind for a moment?

“Baby… These…” He eyes my other hand which looks just as worse. “What did you punch?” Of course, he would be able to tell what kind of wounds they are.

I chew my lip and squirm, feeling caught and out of time. “Cape…?”

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