Page 255 of The Night Shift
“It’s a plausible excuse. My sister is very gullible, and her husband has one functioning brain cell.”
I smile, even though my cheekbones protest. “What happened to Camille? Is she admitted somewhere in the hospital too?”
She hesitates.
“Holly?”
“I took care of her.” She shifts so she’s facing me, eyes locked on mine. “She’ll never hurt you again. No one will.”
I can feel it in her body — the stiffness, the fight to hold it all together. She’s wearing her “I’m a tough serial killer” mask again. Her go-to armour. But at the end of the day, Camillewasher best friend. Someone she trusted and confided in. I cansee everything that still lingers underneath — the betrayal, the impact, the fracture in her ability to trust.
I run my thumb over the gash on her cheek. “Did she do this to you?”
“It’s nothing.”
“If it has to do with you, it’s not nothing.”
“I don’t want to talk about this right now.”
“And I’m the one with tubes in my arms. So speak.”
She sighs. “You really don’t remember anything?”
“I remember an axe. A gun. Camille trying to kill us both. Delightful evening, all in all.”
“Do you remember my scalpel?” Her voice is quiet. She shifts carefully, keeping weight off her injured shoulder. “Do you remember me stabbing you?”
There’s guilt written all over her face. Sharp and unbearable. If there were a way to take it from her and make it mine, I would.
“You’ve stabbed me before.”
“Not like that.” Her voice breaks. “You’re here because of me. You’re hurt because of me. I never wanted to hurt you. I feel like shit, Theo. I’m so sorry —”
I kiss her, silencing her mouth with mine. Deep and hard. I want to take her pain and swallow it down myself. I want to embrace every cold corner and burn a fire just to keep her warm. When I pull back, our foreheads rest together. “You could never hurt me, Holly.”
Her lips ghost against mine. “You wouldn’t be saying that if you remembered the pain I put you through.”
“I don’t want to remember. I only want you.”
She goes quiet. Her breath catches. Then, finally: “I almost killed you.”
“I should be so lucky,” I murmur. “If I go down, let it be at your hands and in your arms.”
She chokes out a sound. A half laugh, half sob. “You’re an idiot.”
Another tear slips down her cheek. I kiss it away. “I also remember you telling me you love me.”
She rolls her eyes, but her voice trembles. “I never said that.”
“Did you mean it?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“I think you meant it.”
More tears. She shakes her head more insistently. “Shut up.”
“Will you say it to me again?” I ask, watching her. “Please?”
