Page 9 of Bleeding Hearts

Shit, did I say that out loud?

“Yeah, you did.” He chuckles further, his mesmerizing smile adorning his stupidly perfect face.

“Fuck,” I say, leaning my head against his chest and closing my eyes, hoping when I open them again the world will be a little less blurry.

He smells like fresh detergent with a hint of cologne, something woodsy with a hint of spice. I can’t help but inhale, trying to savor it.

“Did you just sniff me?” he asks.

I look up at him, a wide carefree smile on my face because, yeah, I just fucking did and right now, I couldn’t care less.

“Yes, you smell fabulous,” I say, and he bursts out laughing.

“Yeah, okay. I’m gonna go find Lo. You think you’re alright to stay here for a few minutes alone?”

“I love Lo.” I squeal. “Did you know that she’s my best friend? Ever since I spilled coffee on her boobs and unintentionally groped her. I fucking groped her, and she offered me a place to live.” I burst out laughing. “Isn’t she the sweetest?” I sigh as the laughter fades.

“I’m sure that was quite a sight to see,” he says. “Willow,” he yells, and the tiny human comes running over.

“What?” she asks, wasting no time with pleasantries. My kind of girl.

“Demi’s not feeling too great. Will you stay with her for a few minutes to make sure she doesn’t get sick or hurt herself until I get back?”

“Okay,” she says, looking at me skeptically.

Asher nods his head and runs toward the house. Or at least I think it is toward the house. Things are still pretty wonky. Actually, I think I need to lie down.

“What’s wrong with you?” Willow asks, crossing her arms over her chest, looking genuinely confused.

“Oh, nothing. I am fantastic,” I say. “I just need to lie down. Yeah, I think I’ll lie down here.” I plop down onto the cool grass and lie on my back to look up at the sky. Much better.

“You’re acting weird.” Willow’s face comes into view above me.

“Weird is relative.” I smile up at her.

“I don’t know what that means.” She scrunches up her face.

“It means that there’s a scale to weirdness and what might seem weird to you may be totally normal to me. Like maybe you think it’s weird that I’m lying on the ground, but maybe I think it’s weird that you’re not lying on the ground.” I laugh as my head fills with random thoughts. “You should totally lie on the ground with me. It’s amazing down here.”

Willow stares at me, her eyebrows pinched, looking at me as if I’m speaking another language. She stays silent as I lie on the grass, laughing without a care in the world.

This right here is the feeling I was looking for earlier. The freedom from my overwhelming thoughts. A distraction.

“Yeah, I still just think you’re acting weird,” she finally says, just as I see three pairs of feet walking up to us.

“What’s wrong with her?” I hear Willow ask, although I pay her no attention as another fit of giggles takes over.

“She was poisoned,” Asher says.

“What?” Willow yells loudly. “We should call the doctors.”

“Don’t worry, I’m a doctor and I think she’s going to be just fine. Why don’t you go play with your friends?” I recognize the third voice as Logan’s.

“Lo!” I squeal excitedly. “My best friend in the entire world. What are you doing up there?” I tilt my head, squinting my eyes, trying to see her properly.

“Hey, Dem. Do you think you can stand up? Asher is going to drive you home if that’s okay with you.” She grabs my hand and pulls me up so that I’m now sitting on the grass rather than lying on it.

I turn my head to look over at Asher and I feel the heat rise to my cheeks immediately. Why the fuck does that always happen with him?

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