Page 39 of One Love

Devin

I’m startled awake by extremewarmth. It takes a moment for me to realize where I am, and it all comes rushing back to me.

Crystal.

The acid.

The burning and pain.

The hospital.

Coming back to Sebastian’s.

Falling asleep in his arms.

Sebastian’s arms and thick down comforter are banded around me, explaining why I’m so hot. Reaching up, I swipe some sweat from my forehead.

“You okay, princess?” Sebastian’s voice is dry and thick with sleep.

I nod as I slip from his embrace and sit up in bed. “Yeah, I’m sorry. Go back to sleep.”

“I’m up,” he says, although his voice says otherwise. “You sure you’re all right?”

“Uh-huh,” I say without turning around. “I just need a minute.”

Padding from the bed to the bathroom, I try to shake off the weird mood I woke up with. It’s almost like I woke up from a nightmare, but I can’t recall a thing from it.

My life has been a nightmare for the last week, getting progressively worse each day that passed. God, I hope they find Crystal soon because I sincerely doubt I can handle anything more.

A chill races through me as I enter the dark bathroom and recall Crystal’s words right before she threw the acid on me:Stupid Bitch.

Flicking the light switch, I shake my head, hoping to expel that her from my mind.

One glance in the mirror tells me that’s going to be impossible for a long time. Possibly forever.

Holy shit.

I look terrible.

Getting as close as I can to the bathroom mirror, I run my fingers over the small bandages covering random spots on my chest, neck, and cheek.

A bubble of panic bursts in my chest when I notice my hair is completely destroyed—half singed off in some places and completely uneven. How did I not notice half my fucking hair missing? Why didn’t I think to check myself in the mirror last night? I look scary as hell.

Oh my God, I could probably scare the shit out of small children.

As the panic rises, a sob escapes my mouth before I can hold it back.

“Devin?” I hear Sebastian call out, but the emotion pouring out of me won’t let me concentrate on anything but the way I look right now.

What has that bitch done to me?

I cover my face with my hands and turn, letting my back slide down the vanity cabinet until my ass hits the floor.

Sob after sob rake over my body, and there’s no stopping it.

It’s all too much.

“Princess,” Sebastian whispers, touching my arms, “what’s going on? Talk to me.”