I shook my head. “No.”
Right on cue, my stomach let out a loud, humiliating growl. I glanced down, embarrassed.
Maksym smirked. “I’ll make you something. Toast or whatever I’ve got.”
“Thanks,” I murmured, still avoiding his eyes. “Mind if I shower? I feel disgusting.”
He nodded once. “Yeah. Go. I’ll bring the food in when it’s ready.”
The bathroom light burned a little too bright after the dim room, but the water was warm. I stood there longer than necessary, letting it run over me like I could wash off everything—last night, the fear, the shame.
Afterward, I spotted a toothbrush sitting in a cup on the sink. Obviously his. I used it anyway.
He’ll survive.
I looked at myself in the mirror. Tired, but steady.
I feel okay, considering yesterday.
I wrapped a towel around myself and padded barefoot back into the bedroom. Maksym was already there, waiting with a mug of tea and a plate on the bed: toast with butter, jam, and cheese, like it was the most normal thing in the world.
It almost made me want to cry again. But I didn’t.
I just climbed in next to him and said, “Thanks.”
His answer was simple: “Eat.”
I sat cross-legged on the bed, towel wrapped tightly around me, hair damp against my back. The first bite of toast nearly made me moan—it was warm, buttery, and tasted like heaven. The tea soothed everything else.
Then my phone started buzzing.
Once. Twice. Three times. Then more, back to back, like an alarm.
I frowned, setting the plate on the nightstand. The tea followed. I reached for the phone where it was charging, screen lighting up with a barrage of messages.
I glanced at Maksym, confused, and shifted to sit next to him.
Something was off.
Valeria’s name filled the screen. Message after message stacked on top of each other.
Where are you???
Answer me, please.
Kira I’m scared.
They found Ruslan.
In his car.
My stomach twisted as I opened the next message.
He overdosed.
I don’t know what’s happening.
Please tell me you’re okay.
