Page 59 of Between the Stars

His eyes widen. “They were freaked the fuck out.”

I don’t remember anything after telling her not to drink my blood, but I imagine what they saw was traumatic for them. My stare moves to Abbi outside the room again. “Why the fuck did she bring him here?”

Josie walks in and sits on Rhett’s lap, having heard what I asked. “She didn’t have a choice.”

I glare at my sister, or try to. I can’t even make out her face. “If you wouldn’t have asked her to come, she wouldn’t be here.” I lift my arm that’s not in the splint and wave it at the door. It flops down beside me like it’s given up too. “And neither would he.”

“I panicked,” Josie defends, standing up to hand me water again. “You scared me and she’s my best friend.”

She forces the water cup at me and the straw pokes my eye. I hit the water cup out of her hand and it splashes to the ground. “I’m your brother.”

“Hoes before bros.”

Rolling my eyes, I lay my head back on the pillow.

I can’t focus on much of anything. All I want to do is sleep, and knock that fucker out for showing up here.

Rhett leans in. “We’ll let you get some sleep.”

I nod, closing my eyes. “Do me a favor. Shut the damn door and keep him out.”

“Will do.”

I watch Rhett and Josie leave and stare at the space where I can see Abbi standing outside my room. My focus on her weakens and I’m left with nothing but annoyance before I fade from reality.

CHAPTER22

Hard to Resist

ABBI

I shouldn’t have returned.

Griff doesn’t saya word to me that night as we head back to the hotel. It’s raining, the only sounds the swoosh of the wipers on the windshield and the static on the radio. I reach forward and turn it off as Griff pulls into the parking lot of the hotel.

In silence, he shuts the car off and then hangs his hands on the steering wheel, sighing.

Not wanting to have the conversation I know is eating at him, I open the door and attempt to get out. Only he grasps my forearm and holds tight. I don’t look at him.

“Are you still in love with him?” His tone, the way he delivers the words, there’s no jealousy in them, which surprises me. It’s a question, one I think he’s prepared himself for the answer judging by the tightness of his jaw.

My throat tightens and I swallow hard, but it does nothing to help the words form. The beat of my heart pulses in my ears. I nod, but I don’t give him words. What’s there to say? I can’t deny it. There’s no sense.

Griff blows out a heavy breath. “Well, I hope you got it out of your system the last time you were here,” he snaps, opening the driver door. The leather squeaks as he stands and removes himself from the car, disappearing around the front and jogging to the covered drive of the hotel.

I sit in the car, the door open, rain soaking my legs. I step out in a trance, stand in the rain and wish it’d wash me away rather than make this decision. I want to follow him, tell him it’s over and I can’t marry him, but I don’t know how to do that.

And I know you think I’m weak and I need to stand up for myself, but that’s not as easy as you think. I’m scared. Of what it will mean, his response, what it will mean for my parents… what Jace might say. It terrifies me.

My stomach rolls as I walk toward the hotel, the lights blurring with my tears and the rain.

Inside the room, Griff is in the bathroom with the shower running, and I sit on the bed, staring at my phone in my hand. I think about texting Josie and telling her I need to leave, but I don’t. The salt of my tears on my tongue reminds me love fucking hurts, and it’s worse when you love the wrong one.

* * *

It’s beentwo days since Jace’s accident and I’m in his room. Alone. Griff hasn’t left my side much, but he had to take a call from the head of cardio, and I’m hoping they call him home. I can’t stand being here with him and my family. And yes, Jace is family as far as I’m concerned.

Jace is sitting on the edge of the bed, watching me. He’s furious with me.

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