Page 171 of Midnights
I inhale sharply, shaking off the lingering tremor in my hands.I won’t let this ruin my night.
I slip back inside, sticking to the edges of the hall, scanning for the nearest bathroom. The second I spot it, I duck in. It's empty. Thank God.
I brace my hands against the sink, finally taking in my reflection under the harsh fluorescent light.
Jesus.
The redness along my cheek is worse than I thought, but not terrible. My lip looks split, or at least it feels like it. But I can’t tell with all the blood. IknowI took that hit hard. My whole face is throbbing, but my nose is only a little swollen. I expected it to be bruised. Maybe even broken.
I grab a paper tower, wetting it with cool water before dabbing at my mouth, wincing as the sting shoots through me. I clean it off expecting fresh blood. But there’s nothing.
I blink, frowning.
My lip was split, wasn’t it?
Ifeltit. The sting. The warmth of the blood trickling down my chin. But my skin is smooth.
I swallow, pressing the paper towel against my mouth again, harder this time, like the pressure will confirm what IknowI felt.
Still nothing. Just a dull ache.
The blood must’ve come from my nose. Ididtake that hit straight on, and I didn’t exactly examine myself before wiping my face off. Maybe I panicked. Maybe I just thought my lip was split.
I shake my head, exhaling hard. Clearly it’s the shock.
I know I need to get back out there before someone comes looking for me, so I smooth my dress, trying to will away the faint tremble still lingering in my fingers. With one last glance at my reflection, I try to fix my hair and put on a smile.
Not perfect, but good enough.
I step out of the bathroom and my pulse is still a little too fast, so I force deep, steady breaths, shaking off the lingering unease as I reenter the ballroom.
The second I step inside, my eyes find Cam by the edge of the dance floor.
Or maybe he finds me.
His gaze sharpens, and his entire demeanor shifts the moment he sees my face. I barely take two steps before he’s in front of me with his hands firmly on my shoulders, and his brows are pulling together in concern.
“What the hell happened?” His voice is demanding, and his eyes are already locked onto my lip.
I force a laugh, rolling my eyes as I gesture toward my thigh-high boots. “Oh, you know, I just tripped. Look at these things. They're a menace to society.” I huff dramatically, lifting a foot. “I’m seriously considering ditching them.”
His eyes flick down to my boots, unimpressed. He drags his gaze back to mine, keeping his voice flat. “Tripped, huh?”
The disbelief is thick enough to choke on.
“Hey, these boots are dangerous territory,” I insist, keeping my smile locked in place. “Trust me.”
His eyes search mine, peeling back the lie like it’s his job.
“Raven.” His voice dips lower. “Don’t bullshit me.”
Something tightens in my chest, but I push past it. Before I can respond, his thumb brushes the edge of my lip, and Iflinchat the slight sting. His jaw tightens and I can feel the tension rolling off him in waves.
“Well,” he says after a beat. His voice is lighter, but I can tell it's forced. “Who am I to question a lady?”
He grins, but it doesn't reach his eyes. “Seriously, are you okay?”
I look right at him. “Yup. I’m fine. Just a little embarrassed, honestly.”
