Logically, at this point, I knew Icouldn’treport anything. Not without some suspicion being cast on me. If I said anything, it would look like I’d been protecting him to give him time to get away. Especially since I’d called in with the flu, not because I was reporting that I had a serial killer boyfriend.
Ironically, it wasn’t a complete lie. I’d barely been able to function since I’d woken the morning after finding Nate with a body and getting stabbed. Things like washing up, changing my clothes, or even changing my bandages seemed too big andincomprehensible. So I ignored them. Hell, I barely ate or drank anything in the days that followed.
Functioning seemed too much to ask for. The world outside the walls of my house could stop existing for all I cared, because it had for me. Everything seemed like it was upside down. I didn’t know what to believe anymore, what to believein.
Because of my inability to take my head out of the sand and confront what had happened, it meant that I hadn’t evenlookedat what Nate had done to me. Which also meant I hadn’t cleaned the wound, either. And I was pretty sure it was infected, if the fever and chills were any indication.
I was so screwed.
The flu excuse, as predicted, only got me so far with Victoria. But at least the infection made me look and sound like I was telling the truth.
Could I count that as a win?
Probably not.
On the sixth day, my phone rang for what felt like the hundredth time and I didn’t have the strength to ignore her anymore. Every ignored call and text pushed my luck that she would show up at my door, asking uncomfortable questions that I didn’t know how to answer. Not to mention, one look at me, and I was sure she would know the truth.
Or some version of it. While I was sure I looked sick, it was also obvious I was hurt. And that Nate was nowhere to be found, doting on me as a loving boyfriend should.
So, I finally broke down and answered.
“Hey, Vic.” I sat on the couch and winced, hoping she didn’t hear the gasp I tried to bite back. Moving still hurt like a motherfucker, no matter how gently and slowly I did it.
“Where the hell have you been? And don’t you dare say you’ve been sick with the flu. I know better than that. You still came to work with a fucking ruptured appendix.”
I swallowed thickly after having been caught so easily over my lie. Except, it wasn’t a lie. Iwassick, but I just wasn’t honest about what led to getting sick.
“That was just a pain in one spot. This is a fever and my entire body feels like it’s on fire and going to fall apart.”
Her sympathetic noise made me realize maybe I’d laid it on a little too thick. The last thing I needed was her trying to come over and play nurse to make me feel better.
“I swear, V, I’ll be fine,” I muttered as I pulled another blanket over me on the couch.
My refusal to go back to bed had nothing to do with Nate or the memories there. It was just easier with the wound on my side to sit on the couch rather than lie in bed, or at least that was what I told myself.
“Maybe I should come over and take you to the doctor or at least one of the urgent care clinics.” Her worry was appreciated, but I couldn’t let her bully me into that. I couldn’t explain to a doctor what had happened to me.
Or to Victoria.
“I already told you, it’s the flu. There’s nothing they can do. I have some cold and flu medicine I’ve been taking, and it’s helping a bit.” That wasn’t a complete lie. I did have the medicine, not that I had actually taken any of it.
The lies were getting to me. I wanted to tell her so badly, so why didn’t I? Why was I still protecting him?
I also still didn’t understand why he didn’t kill me. I was a loose end, a witness to his crimes. Instead, he stitched me up and put me in my bed, making sure I had a bottle of ibuprofen and a bottle of unopened water on my nightstand for when I woke. He could have come back at any time to finish the job, but he didn’t.
Would he answer if I texted? I had so many questions that I needed the answers to. Would he finally be honest with me if I asked?
What if he ran and he’s gone?
The thought made my blood run cold. Did he leave?
Of course, he did. He would have to be stupid not to have fled, as he would have had no reason to believe I didn’t report him the moment I woke up.
Because it was what I should have done.
“Aiden? Are you listening to me?” Victoria’s impatient voice cut through my thoughts, making me wince.
Shit, I’d spaced out and forgot I’d been on the phone.
