Page 89 of Pretty Broken Wings

“Shit.”

After a minute, there’s a knock at the door. “Raven?”

Shit!Shit, shit. I collect myself, making sure I’m not bleeding, then stand straight. Only Gage doesn’t barrel through.

“You okay?” His voice is deep, and he actually sounds concerned. Oh god. Is he concerned? I doubt it. Probably wants to get his dick wet.

“Fine.” My voice is clipped. Did he like the kiss?

There’s silence, and I think I hear him walking away from the door. I grab up the clippers again. Maybe I should ask him to help.

No. No way. I’m going to remove this unpainted reminder of Axel by myself. I don’t need part of the problem helping.

After a few more attempts, I’m nowhere near the power I need to cut through the nails. Sweat has built up around the base of my neck, my palms are sweaty, and my breaths are shaky. I can’t do it, and it’s enraging.

The bathroom is hot and stuffy, and the bedroom is quiet. I need to get out. I’ll try again in a minute, but I need to get out.

I burst out of the door, only to see Gage sitting on the bed, the morning sun streaming down on him, sans shirt. All of his muscles are on display.

I suck in a breath. Was he there the whole time? Did he hear me struggling? My cheeks flame at the idea.

“Raven.” He sits up straighter, regarding me with a cold look. The look is enough to douse me in a bucket of ice water.

Oh, so he didn’t like it.

Cool. That’s fine. Why would I care? I don’t. But my whole chest feels tight.

Throwing my shoulders back, I stalk to the doorway.

“Bed or bathroom?”

I stop, refusing to turn around.

“Where did we fuck?”

I whirl, and Gage only mildly raises an eyebrow. I’m about to lay into him before I realize he’s talking about keeping up the ruse. Some odd part of my chest jumps.

I meet his blank expression. Do I let him help me with the lie? Letting him help feels like a concession. But, as I stare at his masked expression, I remember that Gage hasn’t actually hurt me.

“The bathroom,” I grind. Then, I step out of the room.

Once I’m out of Gage’s presence, there’s an odd sense of… emptiness, but also a lack of that stifling energy, and I can suck in a breath again.

I consider changing, but I’d love for Axel to see me in Gage’s rumpled clothes. I’m getting breakfast out of the fridge when Gage stalks into the kitchen. He’s thrown on a light blue shirt, and I breathe out a sigh of relief that he’s covered up.

The relief is short-lived. Axel also comes striding into the room in a black shirt, wearing the glasses. At least, I think that’s who’s who. I confirm it when Axel looks me up and down with a tweak to his eyebrow. “You two were awfully quiet last night.”

For a second, I freeze. Axel just called us on our bullshit first thing.

“Gage isn’t a screamer.” I busy myself with opening the yogurt.

Someone snorts. “Damn, bro. Just as boring as ever, hmmm?”

I let out a tiny breath. Gage doesn’t respond, then I hear him ask, “Did you need help with these?”

I turn, and Gage holds the clippers. He gives me a small smile, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. It’s like he’s trying to look like he’s happy.

Before I can respond, Axel gasps. “You stay away from my work with those shears.”