Page 324 of Blood & Betrayals

It’s true. When I’m with Max, I don’t feel vulnerable. I feel strong. I know he will not tiptoe around me in an effort to protect me. Maybe I was wrong with what I thought the other week. Perhaps applying the labelfrenemiesto our relationship doesn’t automatically remove the responsibilities of friendship. Perhaps Max and I can be friends, just differently.

Max exhales and then wraps his arms around me, hugging me tightly. “I’m not good at dealing with death trauma, but I’ll try.”

I shake my head. “Just be my friend, okay?”

Max squeezes me again. “I missed you too.”

I smile, though those damn tears start leaking from my eyes again. I’m going to fucking dehydrate myself soon.

Max pulls back, bracing his hands on my arms. “If you’re happy. I’m happy.” He smirks. “But you’re still a pain in my ass.”

I nod, and Max musses my hair. “Don’t work out for the next couple of days, and take it easy on that ankle,” he says, helping me off the table. I groan in pain as I put weight on my ankle. “Moron,” Max mumbles under his breath, and I glare at him. “That will take a few days, even with your accelerated healing. You need to take it easy, all right, Sum?”

I blink at him. “You never call me Sum.”

Max shrugs. “You never call me Maxxy.”

“Do you need me to help you home?” Max asks, helping me to the door.

I shake my head. “No, I’m staying at the Morningstar House for now. I’ll be fine.”

Max nods. “Okay, well, make sure your fiancé takes care of you.” I am hobbling toward the door when Max sighs. “Wait.” I glance at him over my shoulder. “You have plans tonight?”

“No,” I say with a frown.

Max takes a deep breath and says, “Want to hang out? You and golden boy?”

I blink and then blink again. “You want to hang out with us?”

Max rubs a hand over the back of his neck. “I want to try to understand what you like about him.”

“Sure! Come round this evening?” I say with a smile.

“I’ll bring pizza.”

I wave and start limping home, concentrating on my steps but feeling a little lighter. Someone calls my name, and I look back to see Aqua behind me, her loud sweater assaulting my eyes with its bright oranges and yellows. I give her a small smile, butI don’t stop walking. My slow, careful steps make it easy for her to catch up.

“Hey, Summer! Are you all right?”

“I’m all right. Just an accident on the treadmill. How are you?”

“You’re limping. Let me help,” Aqua says, grabbing my arm and pulling it over her shoulder.

“Really, I’m okay.”

Aqua doesn’t pay any attention, and we continue on the path to the Morningstar House. “Hey, I heard about Alice. I’m really sorry. I know you guys were super close.”

Irritation sizzles through me. I don’t know why, but her talking about Alice and me like she knows us annoys me, but I just nod. “Thank you.”

“I never spoke to her much. She seemed cool though,” Aqua muses. “Weird that she was a vamp.” I frown, glancing at her. “Well, the others were fae, ya know?”

I nod, and we spend the rest of the walk in uncomfortable silence, save for the strange tune she starts humming. It’s the same one she was humming the night she found me in the forest. I feel an enormous sense of relief when the Morningstar House comes into view, and I pull my arm free. “Well, thanks a lot.”

Aqua grins at me. “No problem! See you around.”

I limp up the path and call for Connor. He comes to the door almost immediately, still in his pajamas. His eyes widen when he sees me limping. “Babe! What happened?” He swoops me into his arms and carries me inside.

“Fell off the treadmill, I’m fine.”

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