Page 208 of Glutton for Punishment

Arwen

Beep. Beep.

The steady beep of the heart monitor fills the room with a rhythm I can’t stop listening to.

I sit beside Holly’s bed, my fingers wrapped around hers as though I can somehow anchor her here through sheer determination. Her skin is much cooler now, which is reassuring, but it hangs limp in mine. Bandages disappear beneath the sleeve of her hospital gown, and the rise and fall of her chest is slow and even beneath the thin blanket.

Behind me, Atticus stands close enough that I can feel the warmth of him against my back. His hands settle gently on my shoulders, his thumbs tracing slow circles that do little to quiet the knot in my chest.

“She’ll be okay, Arwen,” he says softly. “The physicians said she simply needs time and rest.”

“I know.”

I’ve heard the doctors. Watched them examine her. They promised the overload didn’t cause any permanent damage.

But knowing something and believing it are two different things. And I won’t believe it with my whole heart until she opens her eyes.

“I just...” My voice catches, and I squeeze Holly’s hand a little tighter. “She almost died.”

The memory refuses to loosen its grip. Holly’s body glowing brighter and brighter.

Her screams.

If we’d been even a few seconds slower...

“I can’t believe she came for me.”

“I can,” Atticus says. “They all wanted to.”

“That’s the problem.” I say, looking back at him. “They shouldn’t have had to. I don’t want them in danger.”

“No,” he agrees. “But you don’t get to decide that for them.”

I let out a frustrated sigh. That doesn’t make it any easier to watch Holly lying unconscious because of me.

The infirmary door swings open behind us. “Hey...” Brix says, balancing two steaming cups of coffee.

I look over my shoulder and narrow my eyes.

“Still mad then?” A crooked grin spreads across his face as he almost spills the scalding liquid on himself.

Rolling my eyes at him, I link Holly’s pinky with mine. “I can feel multiple things simultaneously, Brixton James. I can be furious with all of you,” I continue, “and still love all of you. I can be grateful that you came after me while also wishing none of you had ever stepped foot in the Crumbs.”

Brix chuckles as he walks over and sets one coffee on a nearby table. “I don’t think any of us regret going.”

He nods toward Holly. “Least of all Sleeping Beauty over there.”

My gaze drifts back to her.

“You’ll have quite an argument on your hands when she wakes up.”

A reluctant laugh escapes me through my nose.

He bumps my shoulder lightly. “You’ve been here for hours. You should go and get some rest.” He pulls another chair over and drops into it.

“I’ll stay with her. Sly’s on his way, too.”

I hesitate.