Page 8 of Not a Gift

“Not long,” he answers coarsely, squeezing my shoulder once more.“I need to get a drink.I’ll see you later.”

What the fuck does that mean?My mind runs a mile a minute as he strides toward the bar.There is something off about his gait, something I can’t quite explain.

All of my friends’ gazes are stuck on him, just like mine.I wish I could say I was strong enough that I didn’t check out his firm ass or the way his jeans hug his thick, muscular thighs.But you can bet your last credit I did.Every woman in the bar did.

“Fuck,” Pauline breathes.“How is it possible that he got hotter?”

“Right?”Bethany chirps in.“Isn’t he almost thirty now?Like, when does the decline in his looks start?”

I can’t help but laugh at her disgruntled tone.

“You!”Hailey points at me accusingly.“Why didn’t you tell us?”

“I didn’t know,” I reply with a shrug, lifting my hands in surrender.“I barely see Thomas anymore, and we rarely talk.I haven’t spoken to Malichai except for Christmas and birthday cards in almost ten years.We aren’t really family.You know what I mean?”

“Really?I always thought you all were close?”Samantha leans forward.

“It was different when we were all living together.But then Mom died, Malichai joined the Fighting Forces, and I grew up and moved out.Thomas didn’t really want me to start with, but he loved my mom to no end.When she died, he was stuck with me.”

“That’s heavy,” Bethany mumbles.“Why didn’t you ever tell us?”

“There was nothing to tell.Thomas was never abusive,” I lie.“Actually, he was always good to me.He was just indifferent.”

“I wish you had told us.”Hailey drunkenly hugs me.“But we are your family.And we love you so much.”

Tears burn my eyes at her words.There is a boatload of stuff I never told my friends.Or anyone else for that matter.And I probably never will.

“I know, sweetie.I’ve always known.”

Chapter Six

The Appointment

Malichai

I stare at the steel and glass double-story building that houses all the medical professionals in the Capitol.This is the last place I want to be, but if I want to live a normal life and regain the full use of my leg, I don’t have a choice.My dragon huffs, unhappy at the fact that we need to be here, but we both know it’s necessary.

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