Page 90 of Dance of Defiance
“It’s okay. You drank too much.”
“Youdrink too much…” she mumbles, her head lolling to the side on her pillow before her brow knits. “Sorry.”
“It’s fine.”
You’re right.
She cracks her eyes open and lifts the blanket to look down at herself. “I should change…”
“Hang on.”
I grab a t-shirt and sweats from her dresser and hand them to her before walking to the door and ducking outside.
“Rome?”
Evie’s back in bed when I step back into the room, her t-shirt on backward and inside out. Close enough. I walk over and pull the blankets back up over her, then go to leave.
“Wait…”
My sister’s hand finds mine, making me turn to look at her.
“Yeah?”
Evie shifts in bed, her eyes opening a bit. “Are you happy, Rome?”
I shrug. “Sure?”
“No, like…reallyhappy.”
Her eyes drift shut again, and I smile as I push her hair back from her face.
“I think so, Eves,” I say quietly.
Who knows if I’m even capable of that.
“I hope you are,” she mumbles. “Happy, I mean.” She sighs heavily, groaning. “I threw up…”
“It happens,” I smile, tucking the blankets tighter around her. “It’s okay?—”
“Everyone thinks I’m so good,” she murmurs as her head sinks into the pillow.
“Eves, trust me,” I sigh, “no one’s going to think any less of you just because you had a bit too much?—”
“What if they’re wrong?”
The words barely escape her lips as sleep starts to drag her under.
“I have secrets, Rome,” she mumbles. “What if I’m not good…?”
Her words devolve to light, rhythmic breathing as she drifts off.
I smile wryly and squeeze her shoulder through the duvet.
“Night, Evie.”
Downstairs, I find the library empty, which usually means Stepan has remembered that he has his own place and doesn’t need to spend twenty-four hours a day here glued to his phone or laptop.
I pour myself some vodka and take a heavy sip.
