Page 23 of The Ring
I panic, remembering how drunk she was and how she could be anywhere with anyone. The thought of someone hurting her or taking advantage of her makes me physically ill. My chest tightens. I would die if that happened. Multiple images flash through my mind, each more terrifying than the last.
I stand up, rushing to the door, trying to open it, but it’s locked once again.
“Open the door,” I demand of West sharply.
“No,” he replies firmly from his desk.
“You either open the door, or I will break it,” I threaten, my frustration boiling over.
He gets up and walks towards me, his steps measured. “Iwill not open the door so you can go out and start another fight.”
“I’m not going to start another fight. I’m going to look for Cornelia.”
West gives me a look that almost says,Isn’t that the same thing?
“I’m not going to fight with her,” I repeat. “I’m concerned about her. I know her. She was so close to passing out, and if you don’t know where she is, that means she could be anywhere.”
“Fuck,” West curses, quickly unlocking the door, his face now reflecting concern as well.
We search half the club, not seeing any sign of her until I spot Laurie outside the girls’ loo, stopping girls from entering. I finally feel like I can breathe again, knowing she’s probably in there, but I’m still worried about her.
I try to step past Laurie, but he blocks me, his hand pressing lightly against my chest to stop me. I glimpse Annabelle inside, and I hear Cornelia’s voice—a mix of sobs and the unmistakable sound of someone throwing up. It hurts to hear her like this, but at least she’s safe, I tell myself.
I try again to push past Laurie, my frustration mounting, but he doesn’t budge. “Let me in,” I demand, my voice full of desperation.
“Do you really think she wants to see you right now?” Laurie asks, his gaze avoiding mine. “I’m your brother, and I barely want to see you.”
I swallow hard. “How is she?”
“She’s fine.”
Just as he says it, we hear the unmistakable sound of more throwing up echoing from inside.
Laurie winces. “Well… she will be,” he corrects himself.
I look at him, pleading, but it doesn’t move him an inch.
“Just go home, TJ. You’ve already caused enough drama. Annabelle and I will take care of her. I promise.”
Chapter 12
Cornelia
Iwake up feeling like I have just been run over by a car. I will never, ever drink alcohol again. Then again, I said the same thing the last time I had a hangover. So the jury’s still out.
“Good morning, Sleeping Beauty,” I hear Laurie say.
I sit up on the bed and spot Laurie lying on the off-white chaise longue in the corner of my room by the window. My room looks a little like the blue rooms at the Ritz Paris, though I’d say with a little more edge and a lot of jewellery. Gre… light blue walls, white ceiling with a candelabrum. My desk sits opposite Laurie, cluttered with my laptop, books, and photos of all of us. The closet door beside it, the bathroom in front of me, and the entrance to my room on my left.
I love this room, but I used to love it more.
I growl at him. My head is pounding, and whatever volume of voice he was speaking in, it’s way too loud.
“Where’s your sunny disposition?” he jokes.
I rub my eyes in an attempt to fully wake up. “I left it at the club.”
I glance down at my clothes, expecting to cringe, but reliefwashes over me when I see that I’m in a pyjama set. Thank God—I was about to freak out thinking I’d slept in yesterday’s clothes. The thing is, I don’t remember changing my clothes, but half of last night is a big blur.
