Page 90 of Give Me Perfect Love

We’re the same.

She wanted Cain gone, just like I did. Just like every single person in that room last night did.

It’s done now.

It’s over, and after we leave this doctor’s office, we’ll all be able to move on.

Austin comes inside, bringing in a frosty breeze. The room is empty. No one is here but the staff, and I’ve paid this man enough to make sure everyone stays quiet about this whole visit.

He sits across from me, one boot-covered ankle over his knee, smelling like smoke and hard work.

He doesn’t say anything to me. I owe him nothing, but something urges me to let him know. If I were him, I’d want to be sure.

“It’s done,” I say quietly.

Austin looks up at me, not reacting at first. But then, like he’s accepted what is, he lifts his chin and nods.

After that, we don’t speak. We sit together with only the soft hum of the whipping wind outside the door. We shift in our seats and pretend like we’re reading a stupid magazine, and then finally the girls come out from the back. Kat’s wrists have been rebandaged, but both of their faces look the same. Swollen, blue, and dark purple.

Claire darts her tongue out, feeling her busted lip. Austin stands up. She looks at him before looking at me hesitantly. Like she’s not sure she should say what she’s about to with me here.

I rub the back of my neck, about to say that I’ll be in the car. I’m feeling like an outsider among these three friends, but Claire speaks first. “I’m pregnant,” she says, her attention back on Austin.

My head jerks to Kat who looks conflicted.

“What?” Austin says. I can see the wheels spinning inside his head. Claire was just raped by Cain, but there’s no way in hell she could be pregnant by him. These two have been sleeping together.

Kat walks closer to me, and just the rub of her arm against mine calms my nerves.

I don’t think she understands how much I need her.

Want her.

All of the time.

When I got home and she was gone, I was pissed. I almost broke my fucking phone, but then I found her note.

She’d left a heart, which did shit to me.

I’m crazy for the girl.

She looks up at me as Claire and Austin stand, not saying a word.

And like the sun has broken free from the clouds, shining its light on so much darkness, Kat smiles at me. Not all teeth, not soul-shattering, but just enough to assure me that this is all going to be all right.

Proving what I thought to be true. She’s not going anywhere.

Chapter Twenty-Six

Kathrine

After my wrists are bandaged and I’ve been checked to make sure my shoulder and face are okay, I stand outside of the room I know Claire’s in, waiting for her to come out. The nurse opens the door, giving me a sympathetic smile.

“She wants you to come in,” she says. I narrow my eyes as she walks past me. I push the door open and find Claire sitting on the bed with something in her hand. My eyes go down to it, and I realize quickly what it is.

My best friend looks up at me, guilt-ridden and half-happy.

“Claire?” I question, my attention jumping back on her.

---