Page 81 of Twisted Fate

The door to his home office opens, and Skylar walks out, frowning when she sees me. “What’s this?” she asks.

“I need you to help Aurora into the shower. Get her warm so she doesn’t get sick.” Ha. Wouldn’t that be tragically ironic? Me getting pneumonia.

She blinks a couple of times. “Okay. They’re waiting for you.” She jerks her thumb back toward his office.

He nods, shifting in front of me, and grasps my chin in a gentle hand. “I’ll be back. Please let her help.”

Once he decides I’m not going to respond, he drops his hand and walks away.

Skylar eyes me as she approaches with hesitation. That’s a first.

When she puts her arm around my shoulders and leads me through the suite, I don’t protest. Once we make it to Tristan’s bedroom, Skylar leads me into the en-suite bathroom and flicks on the light.

“I know we’re not friends,” she says.

I glance at her.

“But I’m sorry,” she continues. “I know what it’s like to lose someone important. No one deserves that.”

I nod in acknowledgment.

Skylar turns on the shower and turns away while I peel off my wet clothes. Under other circumstances, I would be mortified, but right now I couldn’t care less. She gathers my clothes and leaves me alone.

My eyes travel around the room, taking in the elegance. Marble counters line one wall with two massive sinks, a white porcelain clawfoot bathtub, an all-glass shower, and a fireplace with a flat-screen television installed in the wall above it. Over-the-top is an understatement.

I stand in the hot spray of the shower until I stop shaking and can feel my limbs, and then I continue to stand there, letting the water mix with the tears rolling down my cheeks.

“I love you, Adam,” I say to the empty room.

The last words I should’ve said to my little brother keep playing over in my head until my legs give out and I slide down the glass wall onto the floor of the shower. Hell, I don’t even remember what the last words Ididsay to Adam were.

I pull my legs to my chest and wrap my arms around them. I’m shaking again, but it’s no longer from the cold.

My brother is dead. My brother is dead, and I didn’t get to say goodbye.

“Aurora.” Skylar’s voice makes me glance up. “Oh.” She frowns. “Tristan asked me to check on you.”

I don’t say anything.

“You should get out now,” she suggests before reaching over to turn off the water.

“Don’t!” I scream.

Her eyes widen as she steps back. “Aurora—”

“Get out! Leave me alone!”

“It’s okay—”

“Get out,” I cry.

She shuts off the water, getting the front of her blouse wet. She wraps her fingers around my wrists and pulls my hands away from my knees. “You can’t stay in here,” she says in a firm tone, holding my hands in hers.

When I don’t say anything, she sighs, reaching behind her to grab a towel, which she wraps around my upper half.

“Stand up,” she instructs in a softer tone.

I blink at her. I don’t want to move.

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