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“I-I can do it,” I chatter, gripping the insides of roan when another cra cold, but I can also tell my skin feels hot

He ignoresthe he upward

“Stop” My voice co

“Abby,” Nathan calls, and I openme to let hi you don’t want to do I’ll stand outside the shower, but we need to cool you down You’re burning up”

“I d-don’t want y-you to seeweak This is why I’ve built a steel wall aroundcertain people in Nathan is one of the me like this

“I’ve seen you naked before This ti me closely

I shake ret it when bile threatens to co it does right before throwing up, but I push it away I need Nathan to understand

“It’s d-different It doesn’t f-feel right n-ow Blue—”

“He’ll understand, Abby” His eyes hold understanding “Let’s get you in the shower and into bed We’ll co to do after then, okay??

??

“Yeah,” I whisper hoarsely

I can’t look in his eyes as he pulls raze over my sensitive skin, and I can’t help theI arch forward into his touch And then I feel guilty I’m not entirely sure what Nathan said was true I can’t picture Blue being okay with Nathan being alone with ht nohile I’m half naked And I can’t fault hiht for me, either No one should see me naked, except Blue Either Nathan doesn’t hear rateful he doesn’t say anything about it He unsnaps s the straps down o to cover my breasts He acts very clinical and doesn’t look at me unless it’s necessary, but I still feel the need to cover myself

“Can you stand?” he asks

“Y-yes”

I speak too soon, because as soon as my feet hit the floor, my knees buckle The doardme is too much for my stomach to handle I lean over and spew my lunch from earlier all over Nathan’s shirt