Total pages in book: 124
Estimated words: 117774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 117774 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 589(@200wpm)___ 471(@250wpm)___ 393(@300wpm)
Hushed chatter stops me, and I look into the kitchen to catch the edge of Kyrin, leaning back on a kitchen chair with no shirt on. What happened between us tonight wasn’t something I’d ever experience again. It was a goodbye, a hello, and an I’m sorry all in one. I saw a bigger picture of Kyrin tonight, and now I don’t want to let it go. Him go. I’ll fight for him, for his pain and anger, for all three of us. Two Days.
I continue down the steps and pause when I hear another woman in there with him. Now, before I continue, I need to remind myself that I’m not the jealous type. Up until one month ago, I didn’t so much as care enough to be jealous of anyone—but right now, in this moment, I can feel the dark-green liquid of jealousy bubbling through my veins.
I step backward and go back to the bedroom. I lie there motionless for hours. I don’t realize how long it has been until I read the alarm clock on the bedside table.
7:43 a.m.
I slide out of the bed again and throw on some clothes. Yoga pants and a sports bra with a crop top. Simple enough to do what I need to do today, which includes exercise—unfortunately. When I hit the lounge, The Dolls are already awake, eating breakfast and folding their bedding away.
I look around among them all. “Any of you seen Kyrin?”
Wolf nudges her head over her shoulder. “He’s in the kitchen with the girl.” The girl. Which means she’s obviously still here. I start walking into the kitchen, head hard about whoever this bitch is, when I stop and find Perse and Saskia in there—no Kyrin in sight.
I sigh, my shoulders relaxing. “God. Which one of you was here early this morning talking with Kyrin?”
They both look between each other. Perse ducks her head, lifting her mug to her lips as Sass clears her throat. “Neither of us. Was there someone here last night with him?”
I lower myself onto the chair. “Yes. Who was she?” I’ve never asked about Kyrin’s background or the girls he’s slept with, because up until this moment, I didn’t care. Same with Eli. But now I find myself caring, and once again I’m cursing these damn boys.
“Doc, probably. His knuckles needed stitches, so she was probably just doing her job.” Perse releases a small whine, lowering her mug to the tabletop. “And I say this because I actually do like you, but Kyrin and she have history.”
“Perse!” Sass scolds her. “That’s a need-to-know basis.”
Perse flicks her fingers toward me. “I know. And this is a need to know.”
Sass is still glaring at her when I say, “It’s fine. Only just this morning did I realize that neither of their pasts ever bothered me before. Until now.” I shuffle in my chair. “We need to figure out how I can go back to not caring.”
“Doc is a thirty-something woman who is married to one of the Demons from the Angels and Demons crew. She had an ‘affair’ with Kyrin and they hooked up often. That way, Kyrin didn’t have to worry about her catching feelings for him but always got a good lay out of it.”
I narrow my eyes on Sass. “Why did you use quotations when you said affair?”
She stands from her chair and moves into the kitchen, opening cupboards until she finds a pack of potato chips and moves back to the table. I wonder if Sass knows about Dove, or if she’s keeping it a secret from Perse, too. I remind myself this is none of my business, but the more time I spend with Perse, the more I find myself liking her. Once I like her, they’re all fucked because I’ll blow up their whole spot by telling her about Dove. “Well, they’re all open. None of them are monogamous. Actually, most Kiznitch people are, including some of the parents. They’re very—sexual.”
“Ehhh.” I tilt my head. “You can be sexual with one person.”
“First of all,” Perse says, potato chip in hand as she lowers herself back down to the chair. “You have two, not one, so your opinion doesn’t count.” She bites into her chip and sucks the salt off her finger. “I’m not, neither is Sass here, but there are a lot who are. It makes sense for them, you know.”
“Totally.” I lean back in my chair. “So this doctor?”
“Yeah, so she handles all of the injuries we get and takes care of our physio, too.”
“I don’t care about that. How long?”
Sass and Perse look between each other again. “Two years, that we know of.” Perse leans forward. “Hey! It doesn’t matter. I’ve seen the way he looks at you and Eli. There isn’t anything that can come near the way he looks at you both. Don’t worry, she was probably here stitching him up.”