Page 32 (2/2)

Maybe I should turn on the light? That would help

After I flip the switch, Lilly begins to roll to her back, arht, her hand open like a shield against the blaring brightness

“Why did you do that?” she asks with a tortured groan “Go away”

“Um” I pause “This is my room?”

She pauses, body going still, hand slowly lowering from her eyes so she can blink aton her

“Oh osh, I…” She glances around “Did I fall asleep? Was I sleeping?”

“Yeah, you were sleeping” I stuff both hands in the pockets ofdeal I just didn’t want to wake you up and scare you”

“How long was I out?”

“No idea I actually just got home”

“Lord” She groans again “I’m sorry”

“You must have needed the rest”

“I guess” Her hands are braced on her knees, and I notice so that looks familiar?

So that looks like…

Mine?

The bracelet

Fuck

Don’t stare at it, don’t stare at it

She sees ers, holding it up and studying it like she’s wearing a ring, turning it this way and that as if trying to catch the light in its facets

Lilly wiggles her fingers

Raises her brohen my eyes slide from her hand to her face

I clearback a foot so I don’t crowd her, and also I want to get the hell out of this room as fast as I can lest she wants to talk about—

“Why didn’t you tell ht you looked familiar”

Okay She definitely wants to talk about it

Shit

What the hell do I say?

“I’ers—still holding the bracelet—s it into some semblance of order; sheher nap, and the strands stick up in several directions “I just came up here because it was a bit lonely downstairs and…found it”

That uess

“I’ you feel unco, I swear I caTV Is that okay?”