Page 41 of Demise

“No, you didn’t,” he replies, his tone turning from playful to serious.

Samuel didn’t care for my feet, or he never acted like he did. To him, they were just feet. I’d tell Danny I missed him doing that, but I’m not sure it’s a good idea, or maybe I’m scared to. I don’t know.

He stares down at his hand on my foot. “I’m in trouble,” he says. “And I might be going away for a while even if I agree to do what I’m being asked to do. I don’t know how the outcome will be, but I’d like you to be with me.”

“What kind of trouble?” I ask, feeling my heartbeat in my throat.

He looks at me. “The kind you’ve always been scared I would be in.”

I frown.

He searches my face before focusing on my eyes. “You know who I am. You’ve always known. It looks like it’s all caught up to me.”

“Are you going to prison?” I ask.

His eyes go back to me. “Not tonight.”

Chapter Thirty-Four

Bones

The morning sun shines through the kitchen window, causing me to squint. I take a sip of the coffee Bexley made us and look out at the snow-covered deck. I’ve got a tough conversation ahead of me. One I thought I’d never have. One that makes my gut twist.

I rub the back of my neck, massaging the crick in it from falling asleep on the couch last night. Curled up and breathing evenly, Bexley lay diagonally beside me with her feet in my lap.

Truthfully, I’m shocked she wants to be around me. I thought for sure she’d kick my ass out when I showed up at her house last night.

I didn’t tell her I’d planned to stay; I just did, and when I noticed her hand tucked under her chin and her eyes shut peacefully, I decided I didn’t need her permission. I would sleep where she was.

It troubles me I received no answer when I asked her to be with me. The only thing she inquired was if I was going to prison or not. I had no answer except the one I gave her.Not tonight.

I’ll know more today. I’ve got my head on better, my mind a little more focused.

She walks in with one crutch. “You good enough to do that?” I ask.

She grabs her coffee cup, smiling. “I am. I’ve got a doctor’s appointment in a few. I’m hoping he’ll tell me I don’t need these much longer.”

I nod, popping the top on my pain pills and my antibiotics before tossing them back.

“Don’t you need to go back to the doctor?” she asks. “Have you been changing your bandage?”

I smile. “Don’t worry about me, love.”

She frowns and I realize what I’ve done.

Shit.

She clears her throat and then drinks the rest of her coffee before placing the cup in the sink. “He never did fix that,” she says.

“What?” I ask.

“The drip,” she replies. She looks forlorn as she stares at it, dripping one drop at a time.

“It’s weird, you know. I can still feel him here.”

This time I frown. “I need to go.”

“Why do you do that?” she asks. “Before everything we were friends, remember? Why can’t I talk to my friend about this?”

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