Page 110 of Death and Do-Overs

I took a seat on the edge of my bed and stared down at the carpet. Imogen stepped close enough that I could see the red points of her shoes. I could feel her winding up to say something, a gentle prodding, probably.

But then there was a knock on the door. Imogen answered it.

I rose from the bed and watched Levi pause at the threshold.

His shamrock irises soaked in all the light from the lamps, dimming the room around us. The entire world faded to a black backdrop.

I searched for the truth in the sharp lines of his face, on the lips that had felt so soft and adoring on my bare skin.

Show me what I feel isn’t one-sided.

Prove to me what I’d thought we shared was real.

We stared at each other for what was probably only a moment but felt like a lifetime. His expression transformed as he took me in, from happy-to-see me to something harder.

“Perfect. We need to talk,” I said. “Leave the food with Imogen.”

Levi handed it over without speaking a word.

“I won’t leave the building,” I told Imogen as I stepped past Levi and into the hall.

“All right,” Imogen said, with a tone that made clear she wasn’t happy about it.

I pulled the door shut.

“What happened, Marshmallow?” Levi touched my arm.

I tried not to flinch. I tried not to lean into him.

I needed a barrier around myself, a protective shield so I could think without allowing his closeness to sway my thoughts.

“We need to go somewhere private,” I said.

“We could go to my room.”

I shook my head. It needed to be somewhere neutral.

Lines formed on his forehead. He was concerned about me, about where we stood. Or, he realized I was onto him.

I took us to the roof.

The full moon cast long shadows across the rooftop. Each corner and crevice filled with inky darkness, contrasting sharply with the silvery glow of the night. The wind howled as it pulled at my pants, my hair, my sweater. I should have put on a coat.

“What’s wrong?” Levi asked as the door clicked shut behind us.

The sting of betrayal felt like a knife plunged into my back, each twist deepening the wound, but my mind clung stubbornly to the hope that Levi could offer me an explanation that would wash it all away.

“Your friend killed Nie.”

He furrowed his brows. Golden hair whipped over his forehead, hiding his eyes in shadow.

“Tell me you didn’t know,” I said.

“I didn’t know.”

I stared at him, wishing I could believe that. Willing him to prove it.

“Are you sure?” I asked.

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