He comes racing in. “What is it?”
“Oh, thank the gods,” I say desperately as he hugs me. “You’re okay,” I say over and over.
“I’m fine. You clearly aren’t, though. Bad dream?”
“Yes.”
“It’s okay, it’s over. Everything is fine.”
I relax again and note that while I was sleeping, Cole had placed three lit candles on the bedside cabinet. I hug him tighter and whisper, “Thank you.” I point to the candles.
“No worries. I don’t understand it, but I know it helps you,” he says.
“Can you get me something to drink?” I ask. He jumps up right away to comply.
A few seconds later, he comes back with a glass of blood and my phone.
“Lincoln and Scott have been calling, and Nico texted. I answered it after a few times so it wouldn’t disturb you.”
I take it from him and say, “It’s fine. Thanks. What did Nico say?”
“I didn’t read it,” he says.
I roll my eyes at him and his sweet gesture at trying to keep my privacy and check. “She wanted a pay out,” I say shortly.
“Figured as much,” he sneers in disgust. “How much?”
“It doesn’t matter, baby. Let’s just forget about her now.”
“How much, Liv?” he demands.
“A million dollars,” I admit quietly. “CK paid it to make her go away.”
“Tell him, I’ll pay him back,” he says shortly.
“There’s no need…”
“Tell him, I’ll pay him back,” he interrupts me forcefully, so I just nod to appease him.
I stare at him in silence for a few moments while he regains his composure.
“It’s a, err… nice photo,” he says suddenly, avoiding my gaze.
I tilt my head wondering which one he means and remember the locked screen photo of CK and me.
“Oh. Yes. He sent it to me the other day. It’s from a while ago.”
“Oh. How long ago?” he asks casually but I know he is trying to ascertain if I was with him at the time.
“A couple of years ago,” I say.
He nods. “It’s nice,” he says again, “but I prefer the other one.”
My wallpaper is one of me and him out by the pool at home, draped over each other like ivy. “Me too,” I say softly.
“Do you want to go out tonight?” he asks.
I shake my head, “No, I want to stay in. We can watch TV or talk or something normal. No fans, no Hunters, no distractions.”