Page 139 of Habits

“What the hell happened, Dad?”

Max’s eyes are still glued to Jeanette. Tenderly, he brushes her hair, the only part of her that’s undamaged. My teeth clench and I want to tell him to back the fuck off, but I keep my mouth shut.

He’s herbrother.

“She lost the control of her car. I tried to stop her, warn her not to drive. She’s not used to driving in the snow, but you know your sister … she was driving fast, and the roads were icy and slick. The other car came from the opposite direction, blinding her temporarily, and she started to slide. I guess she got scared, because she tried to brake, but the only thing it did was make her car spin off the road.”

We’d seen her SUV on the way to her house, abandoned on the side of the road standing upside-down.

“That just doesn’t make any sense.” Max shakes his head. “Jeanette doesn’t drive fast. And she’s always nagging me about ditching my demon motorcycle.”

His dad’s face pales. He opens his mouth to say something, but a low moaning makes us all turn around.

“Princess?” I lean down, still holding her hand in mine.

Max joins me on the other side, his father and their conversation forgotten. “Anette, can you hear me?”

“Open your eyes, beautiful,” I urge her.

Her body slowly starts to stir underneath the blankets, and I can feel her fingers wiggle in my hand. I tighten my grip a little, just enough to let her know she’s not alone.

“Open those beautiful eyes for me, Princess.”

Please, please, please.

I hold my breath, watching her eyelashes flutter. It seems like an eternity until they finally open.

The gray color is dull and they’re glossy—from pain or from the drugs they gave her, I’m not sure—but they’re open.

They’re open and they’re looking at me, slightly confused. A little frown appears between her brows as she looks between Max and me, probably wondering why we’re acting like a lunatic duo.

“D-drew …” Her voice is raw, but it’s the most beautiful sound I’ve ever heard.

“Shhh …” I press my finger against her dry lips as my eyes fall closed so I can get my emotions under control.

She’s awake. She’s finally awake.

When I open them, I find her looking at me worriedly. I shake my head.

Later, I try to convey my message with my eyes.We’ll talk later. This is about you.

Only you.

I love you.

I love you, Jeanette Sanders, and I’m not letting you out of my sight ever again.

Jeanette

Soft voices start pulling me out of the darkness. I don’t know where I am or how long I’ve been here, but as they gradually grow louder, I slowly start to perceive more and more of what’s happening.

Like the fact that I’m lying flat on the bed and my whole body is throbbing. The pain in my arm is the worst, and my whole body is stiff.

Where am I? And who are the people talking?

Open those beautiful eyes for me, Princess.

That voice … how do I know that voice? And why does it sound so sad?

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