Page 39 of Watched

The tension tightens as I stare at the numbers ticking over, waiting for a reply.

“Rain?” Alexa’s voice is barely audible now. “As in Rain Weston?”

“How many Rains do you know?”

“Um…”

“You don’t need to, Lex. Do whatever makes you comfortable.”

“Give it here.” My stomach dives when I hear a rustle, and then a quiet breath. “Hey, Rain.”

I close my eyes and smile, thankful to know she’s okay. “Hey.”

“Been a while.”

“I could give you the exact number of days, but I’ll spare you of my annoying brain.”

She laughs quietly. “I meant that as a compliment.”

“Oh, I’m sure.”

“So, um, how have you been?”

I refrain from spilling everything about Ezra Smith and his fucked-up posse. I don’t want to scare her. So, I give a brief answer. “Same old, same old. London’s cold.”

“Of all places, you chose somewhere it doesn’t stop raining.” Our laughs sync, and I know she’s shaking her head. “Have you met anyone?” she asks, a little more cheerfully than I expected. My mouth parts to speak, but the admittance refuses to leave my tongue. “You can tell me, Rain. I want to hear about it.”

Heat rises up my neck to my cheeks at the thought of Rome. “I have, actually.”

“Aaannnd.”

“You want details?”

“Of course.”

“Search, Rome Aston.”

I hear the phone move and the tapping of nails on a screen, then her voice sound further away. “He’s hot.”

I know I need to be delicate when asking her about the pills. I don’t want to tap dance around it, but I knew I couldn’t flat out ask. She hasn’t told her best friend, and that’s worrisome. I also know she hasn’t been told the news about Alcove; otherwise, she’d be swearing out the entire hospital.

“He’s your type for sure,” she emphasises.

I arch a brow at the screen. “And how do you know that?”

“Because he looks like Alexa,” Lakely laughs.

They have maybe one similarity; they’re both blond, although Rome’s hair is lighter.

“I approve,” Alexa sings.

“Wasn’t aware I needed that, but thanks.”

She scoffs, humoured.

“How are you feeling, Lex?”

Silence falls, allowing me to hear the breathing behind me. I spin in my chair to see Blade leaning against the wall. For his size, the fucker moves quieter than a mouse.