Page 97 of Pit Stop

“We should go out.”

“No,” I say, and Rob rolls his eyes.

“You’ve been inside for an entire week.”

“I’ve been going to classes. I’m not a hermit.”

“Yeah, but you’ve been doing the bare minimum, sleeping all the time, barely eating. I don’t even see you smiling. You need to get out and breathe some fresh air. Eat an actual meal. You broke the bond for this very reason. To be free. And here you are, three weeks into it, and you’re acting like a prisoner.”

I stare at that little moon I bought at the street fair and happily note that it’s dull. Not bright at all, which means my heat is nowhere near close. Thank fuck.

I’m dreading Red.

He hasn’t reached out, but I have a feeling he’s waiting, biding his time.

I don’t know what to do about it.

I mean, I told Forest and Sage about his demands after our trip up north. When I told them what Red wanted, both looked bothered by it.

“I’ll take care of it,” Forest said. But I don’t know what that means, and I never asked for a follow-up.

I’m just waiting for the other shoe to drop.

For now, I’ll pretend Red doesn’t exist. Sweep him and all my other problems under the rug and try to move on. Although it’s hard to do that when I feel like I’m splitting apart.

“Come on, seriously, Skye. I’m worried about you. We don’t even need to go to a party. We should just go out. Have a bite to eat. Just the two of us.”

I run a hand through my hair and sigh. “Yeah, I guess that doesn’t sound so bad.”

It sounds terrible. I just want to lie down and sleep.

Rob grins, his eyes flickering. “Then let’s go. Shower first. You smell.”

I roll my eyes at him and then stand, aches moving through my limbs. I groan as I arch back, my spine cracking. Rob eyes me and then sighs.

“I’m really glad we’re going out to eat. You look way too thin.”

“Just not hungry.”

Worry clouds his eyes, but I ignore it, moving toward the hallway where the bathroom is. My movements are slow as I flip the water on and turn to face the mirror. I don’t like looking. It’s miserable to see the person staring back at me. I’m gaunt, with dark circles under my eyes. My hair is greasy, and a small, patchy beard has appeared on my face. It’s not a good look.

I take my glasses off and clean the lenses before moving into the shower. I wash and shave, everything hurting as I move. But I manage to get it done. Mostly.

When I step out, I dry off and dress, meeting Rob in the living room where he’s waiting for me patiently.

“You look better.”

“Thanks.”

He cocks his head and sighs. “Go on. Look at the phone before we go. I want you to see that he hasn’t messaged so we can go through the next hour in peace.”

I swallow and pull out my phone, hating that he knows me so well, that he knows how obsessive this checking has become.

Staring down at the blank screen, I feel my chest constrict.

Nothing. No messages.

“He’s an asshole to do that, by the way.”

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