A Day of Ruin

Chapter 24

Harlow

Iwassittingon the couch chewing on a piece of toast the next morning when a loud bang sounded at the front door. I jumped, staring at it in panic as Dex walked over to look in the peep hole. He looked back at me with a confused look, deliberating what to do before finally opening the door.

I was ready to ask him ′what the fuck’ but a mop of red and black hair raced towards me, flattening me into the couch with a whoosh.

“The fuck, wildcat?!”

Blinking, I coughed as a chunk of red hair entered my mouth. I spat it out, batting away the hair and limbs that were pinning me to the couch.

“Mad dog? Could you get off me? Please and thanks.”

Lily pulled back, squatting on the couch as she observed me suspiciously. I looked to Dex for support who was still standing at the open front door with a confused look.

I gestured to her. “This is Lily.”

“Right,” Dex nodded. “I saw you at the hospital.”

Lily flicked her hair over her shoulder and glared at him. “Ah, you did. And you’re the asshole roommate.”

My eyes widened as I stared at the carpet, listening to the exchange. I reached down and grabbed another piece of toast, chewing nervously as I looked up to meet Lily’s angry face.

“You have some fucking explaining to do.”

Anger was definitely the one emotion I wasn’t prepared for. Sympathy, pity, devastation... that I could deal with from people. But anger... that was tough.

“I’m sorry,” I mumbled, looking away as Dex excused himself to his bedroom to give us some privacy. Lily watched him leave with a death glare.

“Okay now spill,” she said when we were alone.

“Interesting use of words.”

Her gaze slipped to my arm before finding my face again. “For fuck’s sake, wildcat. Why didn’t you call me? I am here to help you, always.”

I shrugged sheepishly. “I wasn’t really in the best and most reasonable mind frame, Lil. It just all got too much.”

Lily nodded in understanding. “I get it. But if you ever feel like you’re alone again. Please, reach out. Who else will get drinks with me and hang out of taxis?”

I snorted. “That was all you, babe.”

“Regardless,” she rolled her eyes, “the point is, if you ever do that again, I’ll bring you back to kill you myself.”

She pulled me in for a hug and I let my frame sag into her as I hugged her back.

“Okay, Lil. By the way, did you really threaten to cut off balls for organ donation?”

I resisted the urge to laugh as I stared at the buffet of Chinese containers on the kitchen island. Even more so that Finn, a bloody personal trainer, had bought Chinese over for dinner.

“Finn, do you think you got enough food? Are you trying to make me gain 500 pounds in one night?”

His face hilariously contorted in pain as he fought his physical health urges. “It used to be your favorite when we used to study. I even got them to do pork ribs in plum sauce with crunchy noodles.”

I took a whiff. “It smells so good. Are you sure you can eat it?”

Finn grinned. “I work out enough. I can give myself a night off. It’s all about balance, Har. Not restriction.”

Dex had work tonight so Finn had volunteered to keep me company. And despite my earlier fears about being alone with Finn, I had to admit it felt like old times.

I pulled some plates and cutlery out as he opened the white boxes. “Do you remember when we ate that Chinese just before graduation exams and had food poisoning? I’m still not sure how I passed advanced math.”

Finn laughed. “You always were just naturally good at numbers. I, however, failed that exam and Mrs. Robins threatened to make me repeat.”

“What a bitch,” I muttered, shoving some pork into my mouth. I let out a moan. “God, that’s so good.”

I happily picked at the food, looking up to find Finn watching me carefully, his own plate still empty. “What?”

“Nothing,” he answered, “I just missed this.”

I swallowed my mouthful, looking down as I suddenly felt embarrassed. “Me too,” I admitted.

Finn put down his plate, walking around the kitchen island to stand in front of me. I nervously looked up, noting how close we were to each other.

“Har,” he breathed, his eyes drifting to my lips. “I’m going to kiss you.”

I subconsciously bit my lip, watching his eyebrow shoot up. “Okay...”