Page 60 of HER SISTER

The ride from the gallery was quiet—and I couldn't help myself from zoning out everything around me.

I felt so empty.

And I was honestly still coming to terms with what had just happened.

"You are the world's most awful friend, Ana—I don't need to hear an explanation to know that."

I blinked a few times, forcing myself out of the constant loop of dreadful events that had taken up my night.

"Ati."

I glanced over to Mili—pausing my steps that I had just realized I was taking.

My eyes unconsciously took in our environment, realizing that we were back at Mili's place.

I looked back over to Mili, who seemed to have a look of concern etched onto her perfect face.

I shook my head a few times, "Sorry, I just uh..." I trailed off in search of what I wanted to say but I only managed to come up with nothing.

I felt so mentally exhausted—from my previous paranoia to the intense confrontation I just went through—I'm considering if I'll ever be the same again.

My eyes glanced down to the shiny wood floors, purposefully looking away from Mili as I said, "I think I just need to be alone right now."

The words were forced and weak—and definitely a form of self-sabotage.

Even with everything going on, I was self-aware enough to know that.

And out of everything I expected Mili to say, it was not—

"I don't think you do."

Just like that, I was looking up, easily meeting her dark eyes.

It only took barely a second for the tears to start gathering in my eyes—instinctively reaching out for the kitchen counter beside me for stability when all I wanted to do was fall and never get up again.

Mili was by my side within a blink of an eye—reaching out to hold me, but I only found myself pulling away.

"Everyone hates me," I forced out, crying even harder as I said, "Even I think I hate me."

Mili was shaking her head, clearly upset by how upset I was, "Ati—"

"Don't," I forced out, knowing what she was about to say, "Don't tell me that someone can't hate me because they can—and I know Mya does right now," I said, practically whispering the last part.

Mili took a step toward me, "That's actually not what I was going to say," she said, gently reaching out for my hand.

I only shook my head at her caring actions, "I don't deserve this. I don't deserve—"

"You deserve everything—the world actually. Let's not even go there," Mili cut me short with a tilted look.

A broken sigh fell from my lips, suddenly taking a step closer to Mili as I analyzed her bruised cheekbone.

"I hate this," I whispered out through my thick tears, "I hate that it had to happen like this," I said, gently reaching my hand up to her cheek.

I swear if I see Cam's face—I'm punching it just as she did Mili's.

Mili looked between my eyes as she slid her arms around my waist, "You didn't deserve that—lying or not. What my sister did wasn't right," she said, clearly upset by how it all went down.

I nodded wordlessly when more tears managed to fall from my eyes.

"It somehow feels like it," I admitted, forcing the weak words out.

Mili let out a soft sigh when I pulled back from her completely, feeling my sadness practically swallow me whole.

I swear I could scream right now.

"It's your fight or flight instincts," Mili suddenly said as I faced away from her, "Your instinct is to push me away—to push everyone away and be alone. But that's not what you need right now, Atiana."

I wiped my messy tears, drawing in deep breaths as I tried to calm myself down—but I swear I was about to have a breakdown.

If I wasn't already.

"You are the world's most awful friend, Ana—I don't need to hear an explanation to know that."

I shook my pounding head, hating that my subconscious was throwing everything in my face.

Hating that I felt like I deserved it all.

My heavy eyes fluttered shut as soon as I felt her arms slide around my waist, gently pulling me back into her warm body.

"Lani," I whispered, my voice broken and barely audible.

Mili hummed as she leaned down to nuzzle her face into my neck, "Yes my beautiful girl?" she murmured, placing a gentle kiss to my neck.

I sucked in a deep breath, "Am I an awful friend for not telling her sooner?" I forced out, feeling my body practically tremble with sadness.

Mili placed a gentle kiss to my cheek, "Of course not," she said, her voice gentle and completely truthful, "Hurt or not—Mya could've handled the situation less publicly."

I nodded a few times, wiping away more of my tears, "Do you think she'll ever want to be my friend again?" I questioned, knowing that Mili knew Mya much better than me.

So when Mili seemed to remain quiet, I felt myself start to spiral yet again.

Especially when Mili managed to say, "I'm not going to lie to you—even at a time like this."

And before I could even begin to fall into my own mental breakdown—Mili was turning me around to face her.

"I thought you said no one could hate me?" I whispered, knowing that I had clung to her words as if Mya had said them herself.

At the very least, they helped me this far.

"I did—and that wasn't a lie. Mya loves you like a sister," Mili said as she carefully looked between my eyes, "And love doesn't just go away," she suddenly whispered, allowing her eyes to trail my face.

I blinked away my tears, "I think it will after what I did," I said, practically scolding myself yet again.

Mili's eyes continued to analyze every single detail of my face, clearly choosing to think about her next words, which easily struck some sort of curiosity within me.

Well, until she managed to shake her head to herself, clearly shutting down whatever her thoughts revolved around before she said, "Let me help you get ready for bed."

I looked between her eyes before I managed to nod wordlessly, knowing that going to bed did sound nice.

And just like that, Mili was leading us both upstairs.

She didn't hesitate to get the shower started for me, allowing it to gather with steam as I began undressing.

"Wait," I suddenly called out, noticing her retreating back out of the bathroom.

Mili suddenly turned back around, and just like that, I was speechless, clearly not knowing what I wanted.

But even still, I managed to say, "Shower with me?"

Mili's lips twitched up into a soft smile, "Of course," she said, walking back over to me and pressing a soft kiss to my temple before she started unbuttoning her own shirt.

And as soon as my corset was off and my dress was unbuttoned, I was entering the large steamy shower.

I let out a deep breath as the warm water trickled down around me—allowing my pounding eyes to flutter shut peacefully.

A hum vibrated in my throat as soon as I felt Mili's familiar warm arms sliding around me.

And just like that, I was opening my eyes again and turning around to face her.

I could barely contain my own eyes that managed to trail every inch of her bare body.

And once I started looking, I couldn't possibly stop.

Her body was so beautifully toned and the way her dark hair cascaded down her tan skin—I swear I might drool.

"You're so beautiful," I breathed out with complete honesty, suddenly meeting her dark eyes that seemed to be trailing my own body in admiration.

Mili took a wordless step toward me, still allowing her eyes to trail back up my body as she said, "I really am a lucky girl."

And her words sounded so honest—and the way she pulled me into a soft embrace seemed to only add to her previous statement.

I leaned into her, wrapping my arms around her body as the water managed to fall onto both of us.

It was an odd moment that couldn't really be defined by time.

With how my cheek was pressed against her chest and her face remained nuzzled into my shoulder—I felt...

Loved.

I don't know if it's too soon to be feeling such a big emotion towards her—but it felt even odder not to.

Somehow I didn't find myself dwelling over it like I normally would—instead, I found myself leaning even further into her familiar body as I listened to her calm heartbeat.