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Sapphire...
Dad would never know if I took The Fluke out and went to visit the dolphins. She’d listen to all my woes and make me feel better. Dad wasn’t expecting me home until this time tomorrow.
The sudden sense of freedom—knowing I could go anywhere and do whatever I wanted for the next twenty-four hours—buoyed me enough to give a half-smile of thanks and raise the mug to my lips.
Ethan never took his eyes off me as I drank.
My skin prickled as a slow smile curled his lips.
He was handsome in a true-blue Aussie kinda way, but my skin didn’t prickle, and my heart didn’t flutter. He was light whereas Aslan was dark. He was broader whereas Aslan was lean and strong. He was young in the eyes, while Aslan carried centuries of hardship.
Lowering the mug, I went to place it on the countertop.
Ethan crowded me, pressing gently beneath my hand and raising it back to my lips. “Finish it. You need the pick-me-up.”
A scared little nudge kicked my stomach, and I pushed my hand against his. “I’m fine.” I looked at the dark popping liquid in the mug. “I drank half. That’s all I need. I’m going to go home now.”
“Ah, really? But we just met.” He smiled so wide, I could’ve counted all his perfect white teeth. “Don’t you want to party? My buddy Cooper is fucking your friend right about now. They’re pretty wrapped up in each other, and I bet I could put in a good word for you. Better yet, if you spend the night with me, then she’d see it wasn’t just her brother you were interested in and could drop her guard that you were gonna hurt him again.”
I scowled and backed away. Placing the half-drunk mug down, I shook my head. “Thanks for the offer, but I’m just gonna go.” Without waiting for his reply, I spun on my heel and weaved around the party-goers behind me. More people had arrived; the living room was tight with bodies.
I got to the dining room before fingers locked around my wrist again.
“Hey...where’re you going?”
Pinpricks of fear. I turned to face Ethan. He grinned his huge grin, and his eyes sparkled with something I didn’t like. “I told you. I’m going home.”
“You should just stay here. It’s safer than walking the streets alone.”
“I know those streets like the back of my hand. I’ll be home in ten minutes. I’ll be fine.”
“I could walk you—”
“I’m good.” Yanking my arm out of his grip, I raised my chin. “Goodnight, Ethan. Go find Zara and your friend.”
He sniffed and crossed his arms. He didn’t speak as I left him in the dining room and cut through the snug. My heart hurt as my eyes fell on the slouchy linen couch. How many movie nights had I spent curled up with Zara under a blanket, watching rom-coms? It was those nights I remembered and wanted back. The nights of whispers and secrets and giggles. I wanted those rather than the nights when Joel started joining us and touched me under the blanket right beside his sister.
Sucking in a deep breath, my balance switched to sudden lightheadedness and I swayed into the coffee table. The small bronze elephant that Zara’s mum had bought in Africa wobbled.
My hands shot out to steady it.
The bronze felt strange. Not cold like I imagined but fuzzy and—
My left knee gave out, dropping me to the thick cream rug. “Whoa...what the hell—?”
I swallowed, wincing at the sour aftertaste on my tongue.
I blinked, and the TV wobbled on the wall.
Get up.
Gritting my teeth, I pushed off from the rug, suddenly fascinated with how silky and soft the strands were. I accidentally stood on the hem of my sunset dress, sending me down again.
My head swam, and the music became excruciatingly loud in my ears.
Get up.
You need to go home.
