Page 38 of Ms Perfectly Fine
“I dropped a mug. Nothing to worry about.” She wouldn’t let him see inside the room.
“Do you need me to get a broom?” His concern prompted him closer, but she only closed the door a fraction more, so he stopped. “Are you sure you’re okay? You’re pale.”
“No, it didn’t shatter. With compliments like those, you could wound a girl,” Autumn said, but there was little humour in her voice.
“Did you cut yourself?”
Judging from her groan, she was growing tired of his questions. “I’m tired. I’m going back to bed—I suggest you do the same.” She started to close the door, but he glanced down and saw her foot bleeding.
“You aren’t fine! Let me get you a plaster,” he said.
“I can look after myself. I managed for years without you,” she ground out before closing the door in his face. He jerked back so it didn’t hit him.
Why was she so reluctant to accept help?It’s a plaster, not a marriage proposal.Something had to be wrong. He’d never seen her look so broken down, but he couldn’t push her into sharing something she wasn’t comfortable with.He raked his hands through his hair.
“The first-aid kit is out here if you want it,” he said eventually. “Call me if you need me.”
She didn’t respond. He clenched his fists, wanting nothing more than to bust her door down and find out what the hell was going on, but Brinkley was already playing guard dog.
“C’mon, girl,” Elijah said, but Brinkley only rested her head between her paws. “Are you going to stay there all night?”
Brinkley twitched an ear.
“Good girl. Be my eyes and make sure she’s all right,” he whispered, stroking her ears.
At movement inside the room, Elijah retreated to the stairs, out of sight. He waited there until he heard Autumn let Brinkley in and get the first-aid kit. Once she was taken care of, he went back downstairs.Even if she won’t let me help her, I can still make sure she’s okay,he thought, hating to see her look so defeated.
The following morning, Elijah wasbrushing his teeth when he noticed that the first-aid kit was back in its place and a broken mug was in the bin. He brought the lined woven basket downstairs to empty it and found the medicine cabinet open. He closed it, noting that the colours were out of order.She must have been in a hurry. I wonder if she was rushing because she was late for rehearsals or because she wanted to avoid me after last night.
He placed his mug on his desk and spotted Autumn at the end of the path. There was something familiar about the girl she was talking to, but she was mostly blocked by the tree. It must be her friend Nina.
Brinkley barking for her breakfast distracted him, and when he returned to his room, they were gone.
Chapter Fourteen
Autumn
AUTUMN STEPPED OUT into the morning sun and limped down the path to the front gate. Nina’s last text had said she was running late.
Autumn’s rough night’s sleep was written in dark circles which no amount of concealer was going to cover. Waiting for Nina, she fumbled in her bag for her next lot of painkillers. A car pulled up suddenly, and she dropped her bag. The sudden movement caused her to wince.
“Morning. Sorry to surprise you like this,” Heather said, getting out of the car to help her pick up her bag. Autumn sighed in relief. Bending wasn’t her friend right now.
“You’re fine. I wasn’t expecting you.” Autumn offered her a reassuring smile while she put her bag on her shoulder.
“Nina rang Sasaki to say she would be late for rehearsal because her car wouldn’t start. He had an early meeting, so I offered to pick you up.” Heather smiled far too brightly for so early in the morning.
“I could have walked.” That would help with the stiffness, but then again, she didn’t want to inflame her nerves any further.
“Nina said you wouldn’t be able to,” Heather said, looking her over as though she would crumble to the floor. Autumn figured it was easier to accept the lift than it was to argue, and she didn’t want to appear ungrateful since Heather had gone out of her way to help her.
“Thank you. I really appreciate it.”
“No need to thank me. I’m always happy to help you.”
They found Sasaki in theticket office. He was on the phone.
“Good morning,” he mouthed.
