Page 66 of Dance of Ruin

I feel my core tighten.

Me

You don’t know where I live, anyway.

Nico

Naomi

Just my name.

No punctuation.

My breath catches.

Nico

My driver literally gave you a ride home yesterday.

Fuck.

I let out an addible groan as my face twists.

Hedoesknow where I live. Of course he does.

He probably knows my building’s door code, which window I sleep next to, and whatgroceriesI bought last week. If I don’t go to him now, he’ll show up.

And if he shows up...

My face burns.

Part of mewantsto see what he’d do.To test that line.

But I don’t, not really.

Not yet.

I snap into motion, tossing my phone onto the bed, heading straight for the shower. The cold water wakes me up faster than coffee. I scrub quickly, efficiently, trying not to think about the fact that I’m alreadywet.

Ten minutes later, I’m dressed, out the door, and walking fast.

Not to Nico.

At least, that’s what I tell myself.

* * *

The hospital room is warm,bright, and smells like the lavender and other fresh flowers filling the space.

Bianca lights up the second she sees me.

“Hey!” she chirps, her voice slightly weak but full of that stubborn, unshakable energy that’s uniquely her.

She’s propped up in bed, a little pale, hair twisted up in a messy bun, cheeks still slightly hollow—but smiling.

It nearly makes me cry.

I manage to smile back as she holds her arms out. “Quick, come hug me before someone realizes you’re here and tells me to rest. Dude, I amso tiredof resting.”

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