Page 75 of Never To Suffer

“It’s a burner. Untraceable. Your aunt arranged for it until we can get your phone back up and checked out. She didn’t share the number with anyone.”

I grab it, turning it on and punching in Dani’s number. Voicemail. “Beetle, uhm, it’s me. I just… I miss you and I love you. I’m okay. Maybe. I’ll call you back later. Don’t trust anyone, especially my parents or any fuckwad named Oliver.”

I hang up, not caring how cryptic that would sound.

“Xander, Dr. Hayashi wants to check you out and test your blood, make sure whatever he used has cleared your system.” I’m still stunned that she believes me, my parents wouldn’t have listened to any of this. “Xander, do you want him to run a?—”

“Don’t.” I drop my head, shaking it and turning away.

“You’re sure?”

I don’t answer. If they do a kit, it makes it real. I can’t go through that, not without Dani. I also don’t want them telling me how many there were. Melody hugs me again, tears in both our eyes now.

“He’ll take good care of you, Bug. I’m going to make some calls and get that video analyzed and figure it out. If you need anything, I’ll be right outside with security. No one will hurt you now. Not again.”

CHAPTER 32

BONNIE AND CLYDE

RED LEATHER

I sneak into the bedroom,making sure the door doesn’t make a sound when I shut it. I even tuck the phone under my shirt to dull the light of the screen while I find my way to the bed, where Dani snores loudly. It’s cute, and she only does that when she’s drunk. Pulling the covers back only enough to slip in next to her, I kiss the side of her head and lay down to stare at the ceiling in the hopes that I’ll sleep.

Dani rolls over, throwing her arm over my chest and nuzzling into my arm.

“Did you two have fun?” She mumbles.

“Yeah.”

“What’d you do?”

“Uhm, don’t worry about it, go back to sleep.”

Her head pops up like a prairie dog, it’s too dark to see anything but the silhouette of wild messy hair sticking out everywhere but my imagination fills in the gaps. I bet her makeup is still on but smeared to give her that cute raccoon appearance. I’m also guessing she’s squinting at me, trying to make out my expression in the dark. I can’t hold back the laughter over the mental image.

“Okay, see, I wanted to go back to sleep until you told me to not worry about it and decided to laugh at me. What am I not to worry about? Why are you laughing?”

I crane my neck, nudging her nose with mine before tenderly kissing her. She’s been at the bar, I can taste the whiskey behind the mouthwash. “How did it go today with Stevie?”

“You’re changing the subject.”

“Mmhmm.” I reach over, letting my hand find her skin under the blanket and following it up her body. Some people won’t mess around unless it’s dark in the room because they’re ashamed of their bodies. After the accident, I insisted on it, not wanting to see the disgust in Steve’s eyes when he got to my scars. It didn’t take long for me to understand how stupid that was. In the dark, people notice things they wouldn’t with the lights on. Like how I’m focusing on my rough skin and scarred body, worried she’s disgusted every time she touches me. I should focus on her body, smooth and warm against me.

“Why are you changing the subject?” She asks, her hand sliding up my chest. “Why are you shaking?”

“What are you worried about, Beetle?”

“Oh, I dunno. My incredibly hot and sexually fluid bedmate telling me not to worry when he’s gone off and spent hours with my incredibly hot idiot of a bestie and didn’t even invite me to watch?”

“Bedmate?” I pull back, wishing I could see her better. “Is that all?—”

“No! I didn’t want you freak out. And we hadn’t talked about what to call each other.”

“Do we need titles?” I kiss her again, slower and deeper. She lets out an adorable groan when I pull away again. “Can’t we justbe? Exist in each other’s orbits without worrying about what people think we are or aren’t? We’re two people, exploring the universes in each other's eyes as our souls fuse together.”

“That’s a lot to say. Especially when I just call Xander my boyfriend. How about calling you my partner? Too old west or a nineties buddy cop movie? Yeah, it makes you sound like you need a cowboy hat or a slobbery dog or something.”

“Yeehaw,” I laugh, holding her hand as it stops over my heart. “Daniella, I don’t care, really, as long as you call me yours. And you’re welcome to come and watch Chase and I tomorrow,” I reply, pulling her on top of me. She giggles, but it’s cut short when I shift and groan in pain.

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