Page 215 of Wicked Savage Cruel
“You’re not really asleep.”
So? I want to tell him, but I stay quiet.
Another sigh. “The girls are here.”
That catches my attention and I snap my eyes open. Dominique is eye level with me, his penetrating stare burning into me.
“They’re worried about you. You’re not responding to any of their texts.”
“I don’t want to talk to anyone,” I whisper, my mouth so dry the words come out scratchy and raw.
He hands me an uncapped bottle of water. “Drink.”
I shake my head. I don’t want it.
“Kasey, drink the damn water or I’ll hold you down and force it down your throat myself.”
I glare at him, feeling mutinous. He waves the bottle in my face, his eyes daring me to push him.
“Fine.” I pull myself up into a sitting position and take the bottle. Glaring at him, I swallow a few sips before giving it back. “Happy?” I ask and lay back down.
He grunts out a, “Yes,” and places the water on the bedside table. “I told Allie and Bibi you were dealing, but you know how they can be. They want to see for themselves that you’re okay. I think they mostly want to make sure I haven’t buried you somewhere.”
I suck in a breath.
“Fuck. Bad joke. Ignore that.” He shakes his head. “I just thought you’d want a heads-up before they came in.”
He moves to stand, but I latch onto his wrist, stopping him.
I swallow hard. “Don’t let them in.”
His eyes soften. “They’re worried about you. We all are. It’s been four days Kasey—”
I shake my head. “Please. I… I can’t.”
He looks away, a tic jumping along his jaw. “Allie lost her mom, too. She can help. Aaron’s been spending a lot of time with her. Maybe—”
“No!”
He reaches down and tucks a strand of hair behind my ear, his fingers lingering on my cheek. “Okay. I’ll tell them you need more time.”
NINETY-SIX
Dominique
“She needs more time,” I tell Allie, who gives me a worried look.
“It’s been days,” she says, like I don’t already know that.
“I know but she… she asked for more time. I’m not going to push her if she isn’t ready.”
Allie gives Bibiana a pointed look. “Maybe we can—”
“B, no. She said no. The answer is no.” Neither girl looks happy with my answer.
“She has classes. She’s—”
“I spoke with the admin. They notified her teachers of the situation.”
