Page 12 of Word to the Wise

“See you in the morning.” Sage heads to the door, locking it behind him.

And I make my way down the hall, pausing outside Reed’s room.

She left the door cracked, and the curtains are open, so the streetlamp shines through, lighting up where she’s sleeping on the bed. She almost looks peaceful with her chestnut hair fanned out while she lays on her back. Her eyes twitch behind her eyelids with whatever she’s dreaming, and I hope it’s nothing bad.

I’d go to war with the ugliest nightmares for this girl.

In the dim room, her cuts and bruises are harder to see but still there. Painting her face with all the reasons I’ll keep her safe.

My room’s next door to hers, and when I stop inside the door, I pause with my hand on the handle. I never sleep with my door open, but I don’t like the idea of being closed off if anything happens to Reed.

What if she wakes up and needs something?

I pull the door wide and slip into the bathroom to get changed and brush my teeth before climbing into bed.

On the other side of the wall, she’s sleeping. I can’t hear her, but I can feel her in the air. Hurting, needing my protection.

My demons have been looking for something to feed on for a while, and with everything that’s happened tonight, I’m going to give them just that.

I’m going to give Reed what I couldn’t give my sister.

I’m not losing someone else—especially her.

4

Reed

“I’m sorry, baby. Itwas an accident.” A hand roams up my side, and my eyes flutter awake. “You know I’ve been stressed at work lately.”

Carter wraps his arm around me and pulls my back to his chest. The room is still dark, with the sun not yet peeking over the horizon.

He was gone all night, and even if he’s brushed his teeth, the smell of whiskey still permeates out of him.

“Reed, I’m sorry. I love you. You know that. I couldn’t do any of this without you. I’ll die if you leave me. I’ll fucking kill myself. You’re everything.”

His hand moves over me, down my bare leg. Holding me closer like it can heal what he’s already broken.

I’m still aching in the spot where he kicked me, but I don’t flinch as he brushes a palm down the wound. There’s no use feeding the guilt when I’ve stayed once more and accepted it.

My temples throb from how hard my head hit the tile when he pushed me off the bottom step.

Thump.

Thump.

I focus on the beat of my heart vibrating in my mind and try to forget anything else.

“It’s okay,” I whisper.

It’s not, but maybe if I pretend, I can erase this. Maybe he’ll forget and just go to sleep so I can return to my nightmares. They’ve become more comforting than reality lately.

“I love you.” It’s getting harder and harder to say that, but I don’t stop. Maybe if I say the words over and over, it will remind him of what we were when we started.

Carter’s love didn’t used to hurt so much.

I know I should leave him, but every time I try, something holds me back. His pleas, his apologies. He’s my first time, my first love, my first everything.

This was supposed to be a fairytale.

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