Page 239 of The Black Trilogy

CHAPTER 33

BY THE END of the week, the bruising around Tia’s eye had faded enough to be hidden with make-up. Bradley had done exactly that for her yesterday and taken her out shopping. When I got home, there were bags everywhere, and Bradley was Tia’s new best friend.

Then on Friday afternoon, Dan rocked up and announced that as nobody had plans this evening, we were all going out.

“I think I have something on,” I told her.

“No, you don’t. I already checked your schedule.”

Super. Why did Sloane have to be so efficient? “Dare I ask where?”

For Dan, going out could mean anything from a belly dancing class to hopping on a plane to Rio for the carnival. Although to give her credit, that was one awesome trip.

“I haven’t quite worked that out yet, but it’ll be fantastic, I promise.”

Just what I was afraid of.

“Can I come?” Tia asked.

Dan looked at me and raised an eyebrow. Tia had only turned seventeen a couple of weeks ago, and Dan didn’t understand the concept of a tame night out. Last year, she’d promised a quiet dinner, which turned out to be served on the smooth, tanned body of a naked cowboy. Well, almost naked. He left his boots on. No, I could hardly inflict Dan’s perversions on Tia. But then again, I’d be a hypocrite if I criticised doing stupid things at a young age, wouldn’t I?

“Sure. Just promise you’ll stay sensible.”

“Woohoo! Bradley, will you help me pick out something to wear?”

“We’ll make you look fabulous, darling.” He gave her a high-five, and she grinned at him. Women loved Bradley.

When had I last been out for fun? Not for months. Since Black died, fun had been the last thing on my mind. Guilt needled at me—guilt for not being a better friend, guilt that I might have a good time, guilt that I was alive and Black wasn’t.

How could I get out of tonight’s activities?

I sat quietly, staring out of my “thinking window,” a glass oval above the window seat at the end of the second-floor hallway that overlooked the garden. Bulletproof glass, of course. Black had insisted. Soft footsteps announced Nick’s approach, and he dropped down beside me.

“When did you arrive?” I asked.

“Just got in. And apparently, now I’m just going out.”

“Dan can be quite convincing, can’t she?”

“You don’t want to go?”

“Not really. It doesn’t feel right.”

“Because Black’s not with you?”

“Yeah. He’s in a hole in the ground and I’m still here. It doesn’t seem fair that I enjoy myself.”

“I don’t know whether there’s anything after death, but if there isn’t, Black won’t care what you do. And if there is, he’s up there watching over you, desperately wanting you to be happy. No way would he want you to mope around for the rest of your life.”

“I guess.”

“I don’t have to guess; I know. Come on, join us for a little while. I’ll come back early with you if you’re not having a good time.”

Nick’s sweetness convinced me. Since I’d got back, he’d taken it upon himself to act as my protector in Black’s absence, at least after he’d got over his hurt from me disappearing. I’d never needed someone to shield me before, but something inside me changed when Black died, and I constantly doubted myself. Right now, I wasn’t confident I’d ever get back to being the old me completely.

New me was alien, a stranger who’d taken over my body. She felt things. Emotions. Anger, hurt, love, frustration. I’d always managed to lock those away before. Somehow, Nick knew this and sheltered me from the outside world as best he could while at the same time pushing me to repair myself. I was beyond lucky to have him around, and I owed it to him to try.

“Okay, I’ll go. I can’t stay out too late anyway because Tia’s coming with us.”

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