Page 11 of Die for You
I try not to let the compliment distract me. “Aurora.”
“I’m Knox.” He drops onto the bed and rips open a bag of chips, holding it out to me. I shake my head. “Was that you we saw at the Sigma Chi party earlier?”
I shrug. “I was there.”
“Did you say that you liked our masks because they covered our faces?”
I snort. “That was you three? Yeah, that was me.” I glance between them. “I stand by what I said.”
Knox bursts out laughing, and even Silent Finn lets out a low chuckle. “Don’t worry. We can accommodate a mask kink.”
Heat pools low in my belly despite every logical brain cell in my head. “I don’t need you accommodating any of my kinks, thank you.”
“We’ve seen you around before. On campus. Couldn’t take our eyes off you.” He crunches on a handful of chips as Finn tears into a granola bar wrapper. “We’ve been looking for you.”
Finally. We found you.
So Damien really did know who I was when he came to. How long have they been looking for me? Not sure why I’d stick in their memories. I’ve spent the past few years like a turtle in her shell—hiding from the world, staying under the radar to avoid detection. To avoid drawing unwanted attention that Jeremiah would notice and punish me for.
A sane person would be creeped out that three strangers saw me once and have been hunting for me since. But I’m not.
I clear my throat. “That’s really creepy, Knox.”
He beams. “I like hearing you say my name.”
I roll my eyes, even as my cheeks warm. “I’m guessing you’re fine if they’re letting you leave your hospital room for snacks?”
Knox follows my gaze to his leg and bounces it. “Fine. My knee was already hurting after the game. Just gotta ice it. Could’ve been a hell of a lot worse.”
“Good.” I glance between the two of them and jerk my thumb over my shoulder. “Well, I better?—”
“Do you believe in love at first sight?” Knox tilts his head to the side, easy smile never leaving his face. He’s like a puppy who’s just happy to have your attention.
They’re both watching me like my answer to a completely random, ridiculous question matters to them in the slightest. “No. Lust is different than love.”
“No?” Knox would almost look disappointed if it wasn’t for that unwavering smile. He has the most perfect teeth I’ve ever seen. His smile reaches all the way to his eyes, thecorners crinkling, brows lifting, like every inch of him radiates happiness. “What about...the potential of love? You ever see someone for the first time and think,I could fall in love with him?”
The truth is I’ve spent my whole life wishing I could fall in love with someone who would save me. Save me from the crippling loneliness after my parents died, save me from the foster homes I bounced between until I aged out of the system, save me from the bullies who made my life hell at every school I transferred to, save me from Jeremiah. Save me from this life that has never seemed to belong to me. But I would never admit that out loud, not even to myself. Hope is too scary a feeling to hold on to.
I chew my lip, pretending to mull over my answer. “I think the closest I’ve come to that is thinking,If I kicked him in the balls, I would feel a little, tiny bit guilty.”
“I’ve never felt it either.” Knox leans back against the flimsy pillow on the hospital bed. “Until tonight.”
He actually believes he could fall in love withme? He has absolutely no idea what kind of girl I am. If he did, he wouldn’t think that for a second.
I glance at Finn, waiting for him to call Knox out for saying something so ridiculous. But he keeps his mouth shut, and his steady gaze on me tells me he doesn’t think Knox is being ridiculous at all.
Before I can blurt something rude about them getting too high tonight, I spin to leave. They’ve all been through a lot in the past hour—they’re not thinking clearly.
“Hey, angel.” A gravelly voice stops me in my tracks.
A giant man is posted up in front of the door, arms crossed as he leans against the wall, too tall to fit in the doorframe.
His dark eyes slice through me, coal-black irises glinting with the same gratitude that glazed them when he came to on thepavement. His jeans strain over the thick muscles at his thighs, and his hoodie does little to hide his bulging biceps. Every inch of him is intimidating.
Damien.
I’m alone in a room with three giant hockey players. At least if I scream, a dozen hospital staff members will come running.
