PROLOGUE
I enteredBell’s and spotted her immediately.
Sofia Bennet.
My best friend’s sister.
She laughed at something her brother said. God, she was beautiful.
Beautiful and one hundred percent off-limits.
Approaching their booth, I paused when I noticed her go pale. Her eyelids fluttered as she started to slump to the side.
Fuck, I knew that look.
She slipped right off the bench and crumpled to the floor with a thud.
“Shit,” Aaron leaped up and crouched beside her.
By the time I reached them, she was beginning to come to.
“Sofia, Sofe… it’s okay,” Aaron said. “I’m going to call Dad.”
“N-no,” she murmured. “Don’t, please. I’m fine.”
“Sofe, this isn’t normal.” His concerned gaze found mine and then settled back on her. “They need to know.”
“I’m fine, Aaron.” Sofia tried to shove him off her. “Stop babying me.”
“Babying you? You fainted again. You’re lucky you didn’t crack your head open.”
I stood back, watching as Aaron helped her into a sitting position. Someone handed him a glass of water and he offered it up to her.
“Here.”
She took a sip, bringing a hand to the back of her head. She was going to have a nasty lump tomorrow.
“What’s that now?” he asked. “Five times since the first time?”
Eight.
It was eight times. I knew because she’d confided in me. Sofia didn’t want anyone to know it was happening more and more regularly and I was the idiot who’d agreed to keep her secret.
I moved closer, meeting her weary gaze. “Again?” the words spilled out before I had a chance to stop them.
“I’m fine,” she hissed.
“That’s some bullshit, Sofia, and you know it.”
“Whoa, Kandon,” Aaron glowered at me. “Watch your mouth. That’s my sister you’re talking to.”
“Yeah, well, maybe you should ask her how many times she’s really fainted in the last few weeks.”
“Sofe?” Aaron said, but she only had eyes for me.
“You promised.” Her voice cracked, disbelief washing over her expression as if she couldn’t believe I’d told them.
But I couldn’t do it, I couldn’t lie to Aaron. Not about this. Not when it was clear that she wasn’t fine.