She gasps it out at last, and yanking her arm away from Nick she grabs Edvin’s hand and bites down. She must really tear the shit out of him because he screams and releases her, shoves her away in fact, into Nick, and as the two of them tumble back against the open door Edvin rushes down the hall, wailing and holding his injured hand.
He grows smaller.
He rounds a corner.
He’s gone.
Ten
Nick pulls Jenny inside the room, slams the door, locks it, boltsit.
Checks the lock. Checks the bolt.
Adrenaline is fizzing through him. He can’t catch his breath, can’t process what just—
Her face crumples, and she bursts into tears.
Oh honey! Come here.
She shakes her head, weeping, helpless, wordless.
You’re bleeding, he says. Your mouth.
She wipes her lips, looks at her hand, confused. Looks at him.
Is it his blood? he says. Jesus, you took a chunk out of him, didn’t you?
That makes her sob even harder. He reaches for her but she shies away, rubbing her mouth, spitting, trying to get the blood off.
Don’t touchme!
Jenny, please. He reaches out again, coming to her rather than pulling her to him. Arms around her shuddering shoulders, her seized and wrangled body.
Poor girl. Poor girl.
This fucking night.
She gives in now, letting go, letting her legs do what they want, which is to turn to water, apparently. She has to cling to him so shedoesn’t slide to the floor. He holds her up, stroking her hair, murmuring into it. That feels nice.
Even though he’s been such a dick to her.
And she’s been so awful to him!
She starts sobbing all over again. He lets her blubber onto his shoulder for a while.
Then he sweeps her up. Just sweeps her right up into his arms.
He carries her to the bed and lays her down. She turns onto her side, away from him. She feels him hovering.
Do you want me to stay close, or should I give you some space?
Yes, she says.
He’s so fricking brilliant, let him figure out what she wants.
He hesitates, then lies down behind her. He puts an arm around her waist.
Good. That’s what she wanted.
