AllFreeNovel
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“Not a girl, remember? I’m public enemy number one.” I give a grin with that comment because I learned a long time ago how to lick my own wounds and how to fight my own battles. “You’re not on my side.”
“I’m on anyone’s side who needs it.”
“Not when your best friend is who he is. We aren’t friends anymore. Remember?”
“Bit harsh,” he says, reaching to run a thumb across the purple mottled skin on my cheek. “You’re hiding something.”
“I hide a lot. Didn’t you know?”
His hand falls away, but he doesn’t move from before me. His scrutiny is heavy, but I allow him it. I didn’t come back looking for allies, but part of me is begging for that familiarity. I did this world alone, gained a companion only to lose him. I know I can do it again if I have to.
“I swear if someone touched you, I’ll-”
“What?” I quiz sarcastically. “Kill them? Yeah, okay.”
It’s not that I don’t think he will. I know he would—in a heartbeat. Or at least, I knew he would’ve once before. Now I’m not sure of anything.
“Give me a name. If it’s not Beck, then why would you have an issue with me knowing?”
“It doesn’t matter who it was. Beckett’s not even noticed it, so maybe you should follow your boss and turn a blind eye.”
“Beckett’s seen this?” he asks, and I shrug. “Talk to me.”
“Look, it doesn’t matter.” I sit up straighter, not prepared to back down on this. “In a few days, these won’t even show up.”
“And until then?”
“They don’t matter,” I say, exasperated, and roll my eyes. “You’re like a dog with a bone.”
“You’re right, I am.” His agreement is tender, his gaze even softer, but then there’s a flicker of something. “Would this have anything to do with Alistair?”
He’s tenser suddenly, sitting back on the heels of his feet to watch me. Out of reflex, my snarky tone comes into play, and I don’t hesitate reaching for that quick wit.
“Didn’t you hear? We only slept together.”
The slightest of kinks arches one of his eyebrows.
“Want to tell me about Andreas?”
“No.”
“C’mon,” I press, willing to change the subject. “Was it love at first sight? Or did it happen over changing his bandages?”
“We’re not doing this.”
“What?” I smirk. “Asking ridiculous questions?”
“Who hurt you?”
“Well,” I start, clapping my hands together as I decide to entertain him. “There’s a list of people, so feel free to write these down anywhere that helps you keep track.”
“Talia, why are you being difficult?” he asks, and he sighs as I smile at him. “Don’t answer that. It’s your middle name.”
He stands and starts to walk to the end of the balcony before he turns back. He and Beckett are so similar it always amuses me. They could have been blood brothers.
“You didn’t have them yesterday when you found me and Andreas.”
“Yeah, about that, I have questions. When did you know you were gay? Because I had suspicions. You never would let me set you up with anyone and you always shut down when people mentioned you settling down.”
