Page 47 of Zero
I wasn’t sure how long I’d be standing under the water before someone began knocking at the door. Still, it irritated me that I must now be pulled back into a world where my brother had been kidnapped and was probably dead.
They were pulling me back into a world where I wanted Rei—in all the important ways that mattered—and I couldn’t have him.
“What?” I snapped.
“Everyone’s here.” Nitro replied. “I brought breakfast.”
I scrambled quickly from the shower, wrapped a towel around my wet body and darted for the door. When I opened it, Nitro tried speaking but I grabbed her arm and yanked her in, closing the door.
She yelped.
“Um—what the hell?” Nitro squeaked. “I got your text.”
“I slept with Rei.”
“What?” Her eyes widened.
“More than once.”
“What?”
“And I enjoyed it!”
“What!” Nitro yelled.
“Stop saying what!” I clamped a hand over her mouth. “And keep your voice down.”
Nitro pulled my hand from her mouth. “Sis! You can’t expect to drop that on me and me not being stunned! How was it?”’
My knees buckled under me and I quickly closed the toilet and sat.
“That good, huh?” Nitro smirked then reached over to take my hands. “Yas! Way to go Samurai!”
“Really?” I groaned.
“Wha—” Nitro stopped and licked her lips. “Why do I get the feeling that you’ve retreated inside your head and now he’s hurt because of it?”
“Am I that transparent?”
Nitro inhaled loudly then exhaled. “Bailey, you did this same thing with Warner. You sensed he was getting ready to propose and you sabotaged it.”
“What about Patrick? What did I do to deserve that?”
“Nothing. You didn’t deserve for him to be the way he was to you—unfaithful.” She paused then leaned in again. “You know when you plug the sink, and you’re washing dishes. And you sink your hand into the water to find the forks and stuff and you touch something slimy?”
I nodded.
“That was Patrick. You touched something slimy. I think you have to kiss a few frogs before you find your prince.”
I sighed.
“Rei might not be yourone.And that’s the truth. But the fact that hurting him is making you think about it so hard means you feel something.”
I bowed my head to her shoulder, allowing the tears of frustration to tumbling down my cheeks. She was right—I do feel something for Rei. I wouldn’t call it love but it was there. It was sitting in the pit of my soul like a seed, slowly cracking, preparing to sprout.
She hugged me. “Sweetie, this doesn’t have to break your heart. Figure out what you want, bring it to Rei and see if he feels anything. That’s how this entire thing should work. But maybe do it after we find Justice.”
I lifted my head.
