Page 141 of Ruin Me Gently

A plate of eggs and bacon slid in front of me.

Huh.

“Did you sleep okay?” A man’s voice broke the silence.

I picked up my fork and took a bite. “Yeah.”

Had I made these? I couldn’t remember.

I took another bite anyway.

When I’d finished, I stood, stretching my arms above my head, and immediately regretted it. Pain shot through my ribs, sharp and deep, like something was pulling apart inside me and I folded in on myself, arms wrapping around my midsection.

“Slow down,” the man’s voice said.

I exhaled through gritted teeth. “I’m fine.”

“You should sit down. Can I touch you?”

“Yeah, sure.”

A hand pressed lightly against the small of my back, guiding me to sink down onto the couch. The cushions were too plush, too deep. Had I always had this?

My eyes drifted shut, and I took a deep breath.

The couch shifted beside me. “Do you know what’s going on?”

I swallowed, rolling my shoulders as I tried to sink further into the warmth of the cushions. “I’m hurting,” I murmured. “And I’m tired.”

“Yes,” the voice said carefully. “But do you know what’s happened?”

“No,” I sighed.

“Do you know where you are?”

The question made my brows pull together. “What kind of question is that?”

“Do you know who I am?”

I sighed, tilting my head back against the couch. “Not a clue. Sorry, buddy.”

“Lilith! Get here right now!”A shrill voice cut through the air.

Groaning, I pushed myself off the couch, doing my best to ignore the biting pain flaring through my ribs. “Coming!”

I shuffled toward the sound, feet moving on autopilot. What did she want now?

Something small glided across the floor in front of me. I nearly tripped.

Weird cat.

No, wait. Not a cat.

A Roomba.

When did I get one of those?

“Where are you going?” The man’s voice followed me. “What’s going on?”

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