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Chapter Fifteen
Moira
––––––––
ISLEEP TERRIBLY WITHOUTthem that night, even the cold medicine not knocking me out like it usually does. At least their scents are still clinging to my bed and to me, giving me some semblance of comfort, but I've quickly gotten used to having them surrounding me while I sleep at night.
Lexie is grumpy too, fighting me every step as I try to get her ready for school. Only the reminder that she gets to see Ryder at school all day gets her moving. I'm not in a much better mood myself, so it's a fight to remain patient with her, reminding myself she got a taste these last days of something she's been longing for and now it's been taken away.
She's not the only one.
We're almost late when we finally arrive, so I don't have the opportunity to interact with Ryder myself past exchanged smiles and lingering glances. I need pizza night to come soon so we can have whatever conversation Ryder has planned.
I'm trying not to go into it with a bunch of expectations, but it's incredibly difficult not to speculate and put my own hopes and desires onto it.
There's just one fly in the ointment that needs to be gotten rid of first.
The studio hasn't been open for an hour before they show up, shattering the peace I'd been able to hold on to. My body still aches and the scent of weakness and illness still lingers on me, leaving me vulnerable to them in a way I hate.
But I'll bullshit my way through this and hopefully get some information I can send Enzo.
I fight to put a pleasant expression on my face and hide how tired I am. "Hello."
"Glad to see you're finally opened back up. That can't be good for business this early after opening." Nicole sniffs disdainfully.
How did I ever find her snobby bullshit attractive?
"I didn't exactly have a choice,” I say wryly.
"You've been sick?" Brad asks.
I nod. “Yes. Apparently my immune system was introduced to new germs and didn't like them."
Brad frowns. “You could've called us and we would've come to take care of you."
I hold in my snort, remembering just how "caring" they used to be. "I had it covered. And I wasn't in any position to explain you to my daughter yet."
