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My phone buzzes, drawing my attention and reminding me I still haven’t answered Marcus.
Marcus: Jade?
Me: Girls have other plans early tomorrow, but I’m game.
Marcus: Great. Pick you up in an hour?
Me: Sounds good.
“I guess I should shower before Marcus gets here.” I get up and lift my hands in the air to stretch.
“That would be go—” Grace’s eyes narrow at me. “Hey, what’s that under your arm?”
I look down at my armpit to see the bruise I’d noticed last week has grown bigger, darker. I just stare at it for a moment, unblinking.
“Jade?” Grace gets up to check it out up close.
“Is that a bruise?” Rei asks, joining us to get a better look. “Why do you have a bruise?”
“Did you bump into something?”
“And get a bruise under her arm?” Rei asks skeptically.
“Maybe? I’m not sure. But it’s fine.” I drop my hands by my sides and take a step back, needing some space. “Maybe I bumped into something in my sleep.”If I was sleeping more than a few restless hours every night.“It’ll go away.”
Penny shifts in her seat. “Does it hurt?”
“Not really.” I force out a smile. “I should really go shower.”
Before any of my friends can say anything, I turn around and go down the hallway, not stopping until I’m in the bathroom, the door firmly closed behind me. I lean against it, my breathing ragged. Running my hand over my face, I look up at the mirror. I gulp down and push myself from the door to move closer, raising my hand to look at the bruise covering the underside of my arm.
My stomach rolls uncomfortably, my dinner threatening to make a reappearance as I watch the dark mark. I tug my shirt over my head, noticing that the ones on my side have also grown bigger. I touch the sensitive flesh, feeling a slight sting.
I trace the skin around the area, and that’s when I notice it. The slight thickening in the hollow of my armpit. Not a bump, but definitely… something.
My throat bobs as I swallow the bile rising, feeling the bitter taste in my mouth.
So much for ignoring it.
CHAPTERFIVE
PRESCOTT
“Dude, what are you still doing here?” Spencer asks, stepping into my view.
I grit my teeth, my leg muscles protesting as I push the weights up, a bead of sweat falling into my eyes. I blink, my vision coming into focus, as my fingers tighten around the grip handles until my legs are completely extended.
One.
Two.
Thr—
I curse as my legs give out on me, and I return to the starting position, panting hard.
Spencer shakes his head and throws a towel at me. “Don’t you think you’ve had enough?”
Slowly, I unclench my fingers and wrap them around the towel, wiping the sweat off my face.
