Page 90 of Love Bleeds Red
“Yes,” I whisper. “It was a long time ago and… it doesn’t matter right now.”
“Firefly?” Leon asks.
I can’t look at him, can’t talk to him right now. I know what I said hurts, but it’s the truth. None of that matters, because that girl is gone. I turn to Blake. “I’d like you to look me over. But not here. Not with everyone watching.”
Blake nods immediately. “Of course. We can use one of the bedrooms. Just you and me.”
I start to follow Blake, passing by Leon and Jasper, but pause a few steps beyond them. “I want to know what you’re avoiding telling me,” I say, glancing between the two. “About how you found me. After Blake’s done, tell me everything.”
Leon looks like I’ve just asked him to end my life. “Bailey?—”
“Everything, Leon. No more protecting me from the truth. I don’t need protecting. Not anymore.” I cross my arms over my chest, and keep myself from looking at Leon. “And yes, Jas, we can call Mom and Dad. But I need to understand what happened first. How you found me, all of it. I’m sure they’ll have questions too.”
Damon clears his throat. “What about going back to the estate?”
I think of Polly’s body, probably still in the woods. Of Cat and the others who might still be somewhere out there in the world. “Did you call the police like you said? Make the anonymous tip?”
Damon nods.
“Good. Let them handle the estate. There’s no one else there against their will. It was just me and Polly.”
“Bailey—” Leon starts again, but I hold up my hand, inches from his chest.
“After Blake’s done. Then we’ll talk.” I look at each of them, my gaze lingering on Leon’s pained expression. “But first, I need to know I’m okay. Physically, at least.”
“Shouldn’t you go to a hospital? Or the police?” Falin asks. “I’m just confused about what we’re still doing sitting around.”
The question hangs in the air, and I can see everyone processing it. She’s right, of course. In any normal situation, that’s exactly what we’d do. But nothing about this is normal. I wish I had the right answer, but I’m just as confused as everyone else. And if I think about it too long… Sitting in a sterile room, having to recount every horrible thing that happened to me. That King did. No, I can’t do it.
“The hospital will ask questions,” Damon says quietly. “Questions we might not be ready to answer yet.”
“And the police...” Jasper trails off, looking at me with pain in his eyes. “They’ll want statements, evidence, details about everything that happened. This is so much bigger than just the estate.”
Leon speaks up. “We can’t trust the police. For all I know they’re in on it. It’s enough that we sent in the tip… We can check on that. Maybe if some news turns up, we’ll get a better read on the situation.”
“I can keep an eye on that,” Falin says.
The hallway goes quiet while they all work out their thoughts. I know I’m missing a major piece of this puzzle. They must feel the same way without my full story.
“I’m not ready for hospitals or police stations or having to explain myself to strangers, anyway. Not tonight.” I look at Blake. “Can you just... sort of check me over? Make sure I’m not dying or anything? Then we can figure out the rest.”
Blake nods. “Of course. I’ll do a basic exam, make sure there’s nothing that requires immediate attention.”
“Thank you.” I breathe a sigh of relief.
“We’ll be downstairs,” Jasper says. “Take your time.”
As the others start to move away, Leon catches my arm gently. “Bailey…”
“After,” I say firmly, pulling away from his touch. “Please.”
The hurt that flashes across his face makes me feel like a monster, but I need to make sure I’m okay. And I don’t know… I’m just not ready for whatever he has to say to me. I need to hear it, but later.
Blake touches my shoulder. “Come on. Let’s go into my bedroom.”
I wrap my arms around my chest and follow her, noticing the way Falin squeezes Jasper around the middle on their way down the stairs. The comfortable affection they share with each other is sweet. I hope he’s treating her right.
Blake leads me into a bedroom nearby. It’s cozy with pale blue walls and worn in wooden furniture. In the corner, I spot her suitcase with clothes spilling out and another one nearby, still zipped up.
