Page 55 of Her Devil

“Let’s get you to the house and get you cleaned up and sorted out,” she suggests.

“That’s probably not the best idea, sugar. Jacob decided we needed to let off some steam and the sparring drew a bit of attention. Looks like I caught him a bit harder than he caught me.”

“Jesus.” She sighs. “So, this is just the two of you fucking about? I thought someone had hurt you.” She pounds a tiny fist against my chest, most of the concern that lined her eyes just moments ago vanishing into thin air.

“Wait, how did you even know I was out here?”

“We just drove past you,” she says, gesturing back towards the houses. “I jumped out as soon as I could and came to find you because you’re barefoot and bleeding, you fucking idiot.”

“Only you could make something so caring sound like an insult.” I huff out a laugh, my back pulling from where we landed on the ground, and I wince.

“You’re hurt.” The concern creeps back as she looks from me, down the driveway and back again. “Where exactly were you going?”

I shrug.

“But you don’t want to be back at the house?”

The raise of my eyebrows is enough to answer that one.

“Well, then, I guess it looks like you’re coming back to our place. There’s a shortcut just further up ahead, we can skirt around under the trees.”

“So we’re walking further away to get closer, is that right?” I chuckle, gingerly following her over the hard rock and into the brush. “Are you sure you know where you’re taking me?”

We walk along the edge of the road as she looks for something higher in the trees. She points out a reflective purple mark on one of the trees before cutting through and following a sort of cleared path through the dense woods.

“Please tell me you guys don’t actually walk through here alone, in the dark?”

“Absolutely not. What do you take us for? Idiots?” She sighs again, brushing a stray hair back. “Honestly, I take you off that awful floor and give you somewhere to hide out until your idiot friends don’t want to punch you in the face, and knowing you, that could be a while. I want to punch you and you’ve barely even pissed me off,” she rambles. “And even after all that, you’re still giving me shit.”

She turns back to look me over again before rolling her eyes and continuing to lead the way.

“We only ever use this in pairs, at least, and only once at night.” She shudders. “We agreed it was too scary and we wouldn’t do it again. But you cannotrepeat that, do you understand?”

“Cross my heart,” I agree with a smile, some of the tension seeping out in the cool afternoon air.

“If you follow that blue marker, it brings you out by your garage,” she says, pointing out the blue mark. “But considering you’ve somehow managed to piss everyone off, it looks like you’re coming with me.”

We walk for a while, the sound of water dripping from the leaves and the small birds and animals scurrying away the only noise. The campus is too far away, the houses locked up tight. But just for this moment, it’s the two of us. Alone. Finally.

“I think this is the most you have ever said to me,” I comment, stopping to quickly yank a small twig from the side of my foot before hurrying to catch her up. For a short girl in heels, she knows how to get some distance.

“Yeah, well, I ramble, sometimes.”

“When you’re stressed.”

“I’m not stressed,” she argues. “I’m fine, totally fine.”

“Sure.”

She huffs out some kind of irritated noise while flipping me the bird.

She’s not fine. Seeing me like this has sparked something in her, something she hasn’t been willing to admit or let herself feel.

“Then what’s with the rambling?” I ask.Silence.“Not that I’m complaining at all. It’s good to finally get a peek into that gorgeous brain of yours.”

“Incredible—”

“Thank you.”

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