I had sex with my dead boyfriend’s twin.
The thought is paralyzing and I pause in my movements to clothe myself.
“Sunday,” Grayson admonishes. He steps closer to the bed and with his help, I am able to tug up my shorts and pull on my shirt. He kisses my forehead, tucking my wild curls behind my ears. “It’s okay. If this was too much, if you realize this isn’t what you want, thatweare too much for you, we won’t ever push you.”
Grayson wraps his arms around me and my head buries against his chest. Axel has returned now, but he allows Grayson and me to have this moment.
“But that’s the problem.” The guilt that felt so tangible, so close moments ago has disbursed and twisted into something different entirely. “I just wish Darius was here. I miss him.”
And I do. Again I feel as if everything is going to suffocate and overwhelm me, but I allow Grayson’s arms to keep me steady. They are an anchor I so desperately need.
“She has to go pee, so she doesn’t get a UTI.” Axel has thrown on a pair of boxers, but nothing else.
Grayson tightens his hold, squeezing me before releasing me. “Axel,” he warns.
I don’t exactly want to listen to Axel, but now that he’s mentioned it, the urge is riding me hard. Untangling myself from the bed, I don’t wait for how their conversation will play out as I make my way to the bathroom.
12
September 24th
Wedged between the two brothers, I flip to my back. My attention shifts to the lone window in the room, of the stars that fill it. I have been tossing and turning for hours. We are back in my bed now, the threads wrapping around us, but there is one more that is tugging me away from this bed entirely.
Darius’s.
“Sunday,” Axel groans. “Go to sleep. You’re finally back home.”
Except I’m not, Darius isn’t here. I am in the bedroom they gifted me when I first moved into their house–their mother’s.
Their mother.
My parents.
“I heard my parents when I was coming in and out.” At least I think I did.
“You did,” Grayson agrees, his voice is ladened in sleep and I feel guilty at waking him.
For keeping them both from much needed rest.
Before I can ask the question, Grayson continues, “You know this town. You know the Thorne’s own it. They have blackmail on nearly everyone in it. And if they can’t find it on their own? They fabricate it. Your parents are no different. They were given travel contracts and told to leave town. They advised they weren’t to make contact with you.They tried to come see you at the hospital, but it wasn’t safe for them to stay until you woke up.”
Rolling towards Grayson, I nuzzle into his bare chest, his arms bring me closer to him, his chin resting on the top of my head. His heart a quiet comforting rhythm.
A moment later, Axel is flipping and cuddling me from behind, his head moving to nestle into my neck.
“I’m going to be the bait. We’re going to get Darius back,” I murmur softly.
But I know they both hear me. They both grunt in disagreement. Axel louder than Grayson.
“Axel.” It’s easier to say this with my head buried in Grayson’s chest, where I don’t have to look at him. “Darius doesn’t have anyone else that can help him. And it’smyfault that he’s there in the first place. You both said it yourself, my near death was witnessed bymillions.The Thornes know that if I mysteriously disappear there will be a public outcry. Even with their story of how the night unfolded.”
Earlier Grayson had returned my phone, and when I turned it on, I had an influx of messages from Veronica…but nothing from Carrie. The worry sits heavy across my skin. Another reason to find Darius. To take down the Thornes.
After searching through my messages it wasn’t hard to locate the video Darius made. It was slapped with all sorts of titles, put on all the main media sources. His quick thinking was probably the only reason we all escaped as unscathed as possible.
The gunshot to my shoulder had taken time to heal, but now it was just a dull throb I could ignore.
Untangling myself from the brothers, I get up and walk to where I have Auggie’s giraffe stuffed animal hidden, in a box just inside the closet.Retrieving it, I maneuver back into the bed between them, sitting cross-legged.
