Page 41 of The Midnight Order
“What?!” I exclaim, pushing the door open wide, forgetting everything warring in my chest and everything with Asher and bloodwork for once.
Plopping beside her, she absently offers me the rest of the ice cream, and I take it from her.
She never looks over at me, and I’m thankful.
She’d see me staring at her in awe of how easily she’s compassionate and accommodating to someone who inwardly hasn’t returned the favor.
“Thank you,” I tell her softly.
She smiles as she swivels her head at me. “I don’t think thanks are owed. It’s your ice cream, technically.”
“Still.”
“Where’d you go?” Her blue eyes bore into mine, and guilt builds in me.
“To tell Jasper that your test results are in.”
She swallows. “And?”
“And it’s Asher’s turn.”
She shifts on the bed, and the scent of fear wafts up my nostrils.
“Don’t worry; he won’t know until tomorrow.”
“So, we still have tonight?” she asks.
I take a spoonful of black cherry ice cream into my mouth. “We still have tonight.”
What I don’t tell her is that Asher is standing just beyond the door and heard every word I just said.
She climbs up to the head of the bed and pulls the covers back, patting the mattress beside her and beckoning me over.
I place the empty ice cream carton on the nightstand and kick my shoes off, sliding in next to her as she clicks the bedside light off and snuggles beneath the blankets.
I do the same.
A few moments pass before she moves closer.
“Today has been so nice. I know I’m a hostage, and this is fucked-up. What’s going on, and all, but it was such a nice day.”
“It was a nice day. I enjoyed myself.”
She scoffs. “Well, don’t say it like you’re surprised.”
“But Iamsurprised. I don’t suspect your testing will go past Asher; it never does, and we’ve been at this a long time, but I kind of wish it would.”
My admission hangs heavy between us before she mutes the television and turns on her side.
“Kind of?”
The space between us turns electric as I turn and look into her searching eyes.
There’s a period where I wonder if either of us is breathing. I don’t need to, but she surely does.
“Tell me about the curse. What exactly am I being tested for?” she whispers, breaking the spell between us.
“I don’t know if Jasper’s ready for you to know that yet.”
