need to know everythingshe saw. Then we can figure out what really happened, where Nico is right now, and why he hasn’t come back for me, which he would unless he was hurt . . . or had amnesia.
I’m going with amnesia. It’s so romance novel. He has amnesia, and he’s wandering the streets somewhere . . . or maybe he’s hurt and has amnesia, and he’s in a hospital somewhere thinking he’s someone else entirely, but I’ll find him, and my mere presence will bring back his memories little by little. . . .
Yes. That’s how it’s going to happen. I’ll find him. Clea will help me. I was awful to her, but I was so hurt. She’ll understand, and we’ll work together to track down Nico. Sage can help too. And Ben. Hell, we can even bring Suzanne, so Ben has someone. It’ll be an adventure, and it’ll end like a romantic comedy, with all of us paired off with the perfect person for each of us.
Clea’s bedroom door is wide open, so I run inside . . . but I can’t make sense of what I see. Even when it comes together, it doesn’t click. I only know there’s molten lava filling my stomach and I want to be sick.
It’s Clea, and she’s wrapped in someone’s arms,and they’re kissing like they can’t get enough of each other. . . .
But the man she’s kissing isn’t Sage.
“NICO?”
The two of them spring apart and turn to face me. They’re bookends of shock.
“Oh no,” Clea says. She jumps between Nico and me as if she could hide him with her body. “Rayna, it’s not what you think.”
“Really? What are you doing? You told me he was dead!”
“I know I did, and I wasn’t lying—”
“He’s right in front of me, Clea!”
She’s still standing in front of him, like she’s guarding him. Clea’s the one who needs guarding. I’m pacing in front of her like a pitbull waiting for the right moment to spring, and I’m ready to draw blood.
“I knew he was alive. That’s why I came over. I knew it! But stupid me, I thought you didn’t know. I thought you made a mistake and you’d be so happy to help me find him once you knew he was alive because you’re my best . . . freaking . . . friend! What are you doing, Clea?”
I attack her as I scream. I grab her arms andshake her, digging my nails into her flesh. It feels good, but it’s not enough until I swing back and land the perfect slap right across her face.
“Stop it!” Nico cries.
“Oh, you’re going to take her side? I hate you! I’ve been a mess for days! I haven’t left my bed! What kind of crazy assholes come up with death to cover up cheating? Your mother is having a funeral for you!”
“My mother? You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You told me you loved me! I’m wearing your stupid-ass ring.” I tug it toward him, brandishing it in front of me. “ ‘One Day,’ you said. Were you two already together? Or is that what it meant, ‘ One day I’ll be screwing your best friend’?”
Nico just stands there, his arms crossed, his face cold and stormy. I can’t believe it. It’s like he doesn’t even care I’m here.
“You’re out of control,” he says matter-of-factly.
“ I’m out of control? You said you wanted to marry me!” I lunge for him, but Clea jumps in front of me, pushing me back.
“Stop!” she says. “You don’t understand!”
“Get off me!” Clea has her hands on my shoulders, so I reach out and grab a fistful of her blond hair. I tug until a clump rips free in my hands, and I laugh when Clea screams and drops to the floor.
“Get away from her!” Nico growls to me.
“Stop defending her!”
Without Clea in my way, I storm to Nico and beat on him again and again and again. I know I’m not hurting him—he’s a tank—but I just want to have some effect on him, make him say or do something , even acknowledge what he did. But all he does is stand there and say in a voice as cold as ice, “Cut it out.”
“No! I won’t! You lied to
I’m going with amnesia. It’s so romance novel. He has amnesia, and he’s wandering the streets somewhere . . . or maybe he’s hurt and has amnesia, and he’s in a hospital somewhere thinking he’s someone else entirely, but I’ll find him, and my mere presence will bring back his memories little by little. . . .
Yes. That’s how it’s going to happen. I’ll find him. Clea will help me. I was awful to her, but I was so hurt. She’ll understand, and we’ll work together to track down Nico. Sage can help too. And Ben. Hell, we can even bring Suzanne, so Ben has someone. It’ll be an adventure, and it’ll end like a romantic comedy, with all of us paired off with the perfect person for each of us.
Clea’s bedroom door is wide open, so I run inside . . . but I can’t make sense of what I see. Even when it comes together, it doesn’t click. I only know there’s molten lava filling my stomach and I want to be sick.
It’s Clea, and she’s wrapped in someone’s arms,and they’re kissing like they can’t get enough of each other. . . .
But the man she’s kissing isn’t Sage.
“NICO?”
The two of them spring apart and turn to face me. They’re bookends of shock.
“Oh no,” Clea says. She jumps between Nico and me as if she could hide him with her body. “Rayna, it’s not what you think.”
“Really? What are you doing? You told me he was dead!”
“I know I did, and I wasn’t lying—”
“He’s right in front of me, Clea!”
She’s still standing in front of him, like she’s guarding him. Clea’s the one who needs guarding. I’m pacing in front of her like a pitbull waiting for the right moment to spring, and I’m ready to draw blood.
“I knew he was alive. That’s why I came over. I knew it! But stupid me, I thought you didn’t know. I thought you made a mistake and you’d be so happy to help me find him once you knew he was alive because you’re my best . . . freaking . . . friend! What are you doing, Clea?”
I attack her as I scream. I grab her arms andshake her, digging my nails into her flesh. It feels good, but it’s not enough until I swing back and land the perfect slap right across her face.
“Stop it!” Nico cries.
“Oh, you’re going to take her side? I hate you! I’ve been a mess for days! I haven’t left my bed! What kind of crazy assholes come up with death to cover up cheating? Your mother is having a funeral for you!”
“My mother? You don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“You told me you loved me! I’m wearing your stupid-ass ring.” I tug it toward him, brandishing it in front of me. “ ‘One Day,’ you said. Were you two already together? Or is that what it meant, ‘ One day I’ll be screwing your best friend’?”
Nico just stands there, his arms crossed, his face cold and stormy. I can’t believe it. It’s like he doesn’t even care I’m here.
“You’re out of control,” he says matter-of-factly.
“ I’m out of control? You said you wanted to marry me!” I lunge for him, but Clea jumps in front of me, pushing me back.
“Stop!” she says. “You don’t understand!”
“Get off me!” Clea has her hands on my shoulders, so I reach out and grab a fistful of her blond hair. I tug until a clump rips free in my hands, and I laugh when Clea screams and drops to the floor.
“Get away from her!” Nico growls to me.
“Stop defending her!”
Without Clea in my way, I storm to Nico and beat on him again and again and again. I know I’m not hurting him—he’s a tank—but I just want to have some effect on him, make him say or do something , even acknowledge what he did. But all he does is stand there and say in a voice as cold as ice, “Cut it out.”
“No! I won’t! You lied to
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