Page 82 of Deviant

I grimace at his words but am not surprised by them either.

“Like I said, I’m aware.”

“I didn’t need you to play the knight in shining armor back there with Aidan. I can handle my own shit.”

“I know you can.”

His eyes penetrate mine in a way they’ve never done before.

“We’re not friends. We’re not anything.”

“Is this how this conversation is going to go along? You stating the obvious? Because I have better things to do with my time than stand here listening to you whine about how much you loathe me.”

“Then stop making it so easy for a guy to hate you.”

“Why? When it’s obvious I’m so good at it?” I roll my eyes since it’s apparent Elias isn’t going to change his tune anytime soon.

Though I usually enjoy his type of cruelty, I’m just not in the mood for it tonight. Not only did I not break up with Aidan like I wanted, but I also realized that I couldn’t after seeing Emily wasting away like that. As long as she’s clinging to life, the least I can do is spend with her whatever remaining days she has left. If my presence brings her comfort, then that’s what she’ll have.

As I’m about to leave Elias with his dark cloud of smoke, he surprises me by grabbing my arm, preventing me from taking another step.

“Wait.”

Oxygen evades me with this one touch as his grip tightens around my forearm.

The sound of my rapid heartbeat rings in my ear as my gaze slowly lifts from his fingers to his face, the formidable clench in his jaw making my knees weak.

“I’m not done with you yet,” he says, the words sounding both threatening and promising to my ears.

When he releases my arm to walk to the other side of the porch, the corners of my lips dip into a frown, wishing he’d kept his hold on me a little while longer. But my disappointment is short-lived and replaced with curiosity as he lifts a familiar backpack hidden away behind the porch couch.

He throws it at me, and I catch it in one go.

“What… what is this?” I ask, staring at Nora’s checkered backpack, the one she used to use for school.

“I had to clear some stuff in Nora’s room the other day and thought you might want that shit.”

“You’re clearing out her room?” I ask in panic.

“Don’t get your panties in a twist. I just gave away some old clothes and toys. Nothing major. Not everyone can live offThe Scourgemoney for the whole year, you know? Some people need all the help they can get. Especially those who have to blow their chunk of change on medicine and other hospital bills every year.”

Shame coats me yet again when I realize that Elias might have a bigger heart than my own.

I wouldn’t have given Nora’s belongings away.

Not even to those most in need.

“Thank you for this,” I say, choosing not to vocalize the unsettling realization I had about myself in light of his generosity.

“Yeah, okay. Now if you don’t mind fucking right off, that would be great.”

I guess Elias has had enough of me for the night.

“Goodnight,” I say with a smile, hugging the backpack to my chest.

“Yeah, whatever,” he grumbles, stubbing out his cigarette and rushing back inside.

From the porch, I watch him begin cleaning up the mess they made, and I can’t help but wonder if maybe everyone has got it all wrong.

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