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I suck in another shaky breath as I grip the edge of the vanity.
“Abigail.” His gentle knock sends my pulse skyrocketing. “Everything okay in there?”
“Y-yeah. I’ll be right out.”
It’s an effort to go to the door and open it, to meet his steely gaze.
“I was peeing, Elliot.” A sigh escapes me as I brush past him and sit on the bed. “When do they get back?” I ask, trying to break some of the tension between us.
“In a couple of days.”
I nod, hands fidgeting in my lap.
“Do you need anything?” he asks.
“I have water.” I tilt my head toward the fresh bottle on the bedside table. One he must have put there earlier.
“If I go downstairs, do I need to be worried?”
A stone plunks my chest. “I’m not going to hurt myself if that’s what you mean.”
He studies me for a second then nods. “Get some sleep. I’ll see you tomorrow.”
Elliot walks out of the room and closes the door behind him.
I flop backward, huffing out a little breath but my eyes flicker over to the door. To where I wonder if Elliot waits on the other side to see if I’ll do something reckless.
He’s such an enigma. A closed book who guards his secrets. It seems ridiculous now that I ever had the notion that I might be the girl to get under his skin and discover the boy beneath the cold exterior.
I almost can’t believe I let myself think I could.
He’s an Eaton. A future Scion. In September, he’ll go off to Saints Cross University and rule there with an iron fist, just as his older brother has done before him. He has a name to uphold, a reputation.
His has his entire future mapped out if the rumours are to be believed.
There’s no room at his side for a girl like me.
So how can I stay here?
How can I let myself accept his charity… his pity?
The truth is, I can’t—I shouldn’t.
Yet, I’m not sure I’m strong enough right now to walk away.
12
ELLIOT
Igrunt as I shift on the sofa for the millionth time since I forced myself to walk away from Abigail earlier.
She doesn’t think I trust her.
She doesn’t think I understand.
I shouldn’t be surprised.
I know the image I show the rest of the world. I know what the population of All Hallows’ thinks of me.
