Page 146 of Forgotten Prejudice

Ash nodded. “Hold on, okay? I’ll be right back.”

He left my side, and I turned around, still trying to ease the pain by doing this silly dance that never actually helped. My head was a total mess, and between trying not to screw up and worrying over Soren, I was losing my mind. The other day in the police station, when he’d urged me to tell Ash the truth, what the fuck was up with that? We were both jerks. Why not keep the past where it belonged?

Ash came back, ointment and some gauze in his hand. “Here, let me see it again.”

Carefully, he held my hand while looking at the burn. It wasn’t serious enough to go to the hospital, but I knew it would limit me for a few days.

“We need to run it under cold water,” he said and brought my hand to the sink. About ten minutes later, he turned off the tap and began treating me.

“Thank you,” I told Ash as he took care of me, his touch nothing but gentle.

“Of course.”

I was such a jerk to him and didn’t deserve his kindness or forgiveness. I knew it. I knew he was a thousand times too good for me, but in the same breath, I couldn’t let him go. I was too fucking selfish for that. I was too greedy to ever give up on him.

“I’m going to ask you something,” Ash suddenly said, cutting into my thoughts.

“Of course.”

He looked up from my bandaged hand to meet my eyes. “But before I do, promise me you’ll be honest.”

My chest tightened with nerves as my heart pounded faster. What’s he talking about? I swallowed hard, then tried to get some air into my lungs. Could Soren have told him about—

“Why is there a bottle of scotch in your bathroom cabinet?”

Oh shit.

My eyes snapped open with shock because I’d completely forgotten about that thing. Ash’s face turned worried by the minute until I had no choice but to explain.

“It’s not what you think.”

“Are you drinking again?”

“No.”

“Using?”

“Fuck, no,” I squealed.

“So why do you have that bottle?”

I shrugged. “Just because?”

“So you didn’t buy that bottle?”

“I-I did.”

He held my hand tighter, and I winced. “O-Ouch.”

“Answer me, Kai. Why the hell did you buy a bottle of scotch?” He dropped my hand but didn’t move away.

Well, shit. Now I had to speak.

“I almost drank it… but I didn’t.”

Ash’s brows frowned, and he placed his hand on my jaw. “But why?”

I snorted, caressing the back of his palm. “What do you mean why? On Saturday, I thought you were through with me… and it killed me.”