35. Olivia #3
“My sister. My mother,” I croak, my voice cracking with emotion.
“I need to see them put to rest. After…” Witnessing their murders.
They play behind my eyes every time I fall asleep or squeeze my eyes shut.
The only thing that takes away the pain of their deaths is the pain medication running steadily through my veins, knocking me out, and sending me to an alternate reality.
“Soooo,” Simon sing-songs, knocking his shoulder into mine and bringing me out of the horror I was sucked into. “There’s a fight coming up on Saturday.” He grins. “Daniel wants to go and…” He wiggles his brows.
I shake myself from the remnants of the memory. So much pain ricochets through me from the thoughts of lying in that hospital bed. Even when I went to the funeral and stood behind the tree, watching as they mocked us with their false sympathies.
“The fights?” Right. Malic asked me the same thing at the blood drive.
But I can’t exactly show up in my Oliver disguise.
That’s like an open invitation for Brutus to call on me again.
Or anyone else. Fuck. I’d rather not have to fight anyone again.
No thank you. If I show up for that fight, it’ll be in another disguise no one will recognize.
Simon sends me a look. “The fights? Oli,” he whines playfully. “Don’t you want to see all that man meat in those tight shorts with their shirts off?” He blows out a breath, fanning his face.
I snort. “I can’t show up like that,” I say, pointing to my clothes. “Brutus will be after me. They’ll probably call me out again.”
And that’s the last thing I want to happen. I don’t want to fight any of them. I want to be left in peace so I can figure out what the hell is happening around here.
“Oh, right.” Before he has time to pout, he lights up.
“We could go shopping, you know? New outfit. New you.” Simon wiggles his brows as his grin grows.
“That way you don’t miss out on all the hot fun.
” It’s not a bad idea. I could get some new clothes and a new disguise.
“We had so much fun last time!” he says enthusiastically.
“And you kicked Brutus’s ass. I bet you could face anyone and win.
” He laughs quietly with way too much faith in my fighting abilities. “Even Malic. Can you imagine?”
“Your confidence in me is admirable, Si. But I’ll have to sit this one out.” Maybe.
I shake my head. The only way I’d ever go back to the Coliseum is if I had a wig, my regular Olivia clothes, and no one to recognize me. But I have way too much on my plate right now to do anything risky like that, especially with JJ sniffing around. He’d give me up for sure.
“Besides, how do you remember any of it?”
He tossed his cookies after too much booze, and Jordy and I practically carried him home. I’m surprised we got him through the window of our dorm building without hurting him. But Simon is resilient and allergic to hangovers. Oh, how I envy him.
“Well, that’s rude, Oli. I remember every bit of that night.
” His brows furrow as we continue down the hallway toward Wade’s room, nearly getting to it.
“Well, except for getting home. And the walk back. Okay, shh. I don’t remember a lot.
Those drinks went down fast. They were delicious.
But your fight? Oh, yeah. That was unforgettable.
” He grins with a snort. “Brutus did get a few punches in on you, that asshole. Sucker-punched you before the damn fight started.” He cringes, hissing through his teeth, probably remembering the pain I was in after Brutus got me on the ribs.
A pain I still feel from time to time now.
“Exactly. No thank you to a repeat of all that,” I say, shaking my head. “I’d rather let you and Daniel have a good time, and me hide in my dorm eating ice cream and binging more Buffy.”
“You know, Malic will be fighting against Huxley again,” Simon reminds me as we stop outside Wade’s room, and he turns to look at me with an evil sort of grin.
“It’ll be epic as hell, Oli. Can you imagine if Huxley beats Malic?
They’re both undefeated champions!” He lets out a low whistle.
“Malic won’t be able to return to the fights.
They’ll put his ass on the wall of shame.
” He chuckles at that. “Even Hux, if he loses.”
“And Mack? He lost against Wilder, right?” I ask.
Simon grins. “Yes! He lost. Which means he’s not supposed to be at the fights or parties or anything.
But they make the rules; I’m sure he’ll be there.
” He frowns. “But if he’s not, you should totally come with us!
Please, Oli!” He folds his hands together, letting the bag with the ice cream fall down his forearm and hang there.
“I’ll text you if he doesn’t show, and then it’s mandatory you come. ” He gives me a stern look.
I snort. “You’re trying really hard for me to be the third wheel, Si. Sure. Text me if Mack doesn’t make it,” I quip with a snort. Like he’d ever sit a fight out. “Should we go in?” I gesture to Wade’s room with a nod.
Simon waves a hand. “The more the merrier.” He grins at that. “Yeah, let’s see how the big guy is doing today. Oh, Wadeee!” Simon sings as he slowly throws open the door, and we walk in without checking.
The bright morning sun pours through Wade’s massive window, washing over him.
He leans back in the bed on his flat pillows with his eyes half closed, soaking up the warm rays of the sun.
His wet blond hair clings to his forehead and neck, and he’s wearing a fresh shirt and sweatpants.
His eyes pop open as he watches us enter the room, with a grin spreading across his lips.
“You guys are lifesavers, seriously,” he says with a soft sigh of satisfaction after noticing the bag Simon holds in the air.
“I’ve been having withdrawals from my favorite ice cream.
” He shakes his head, giving a pained expression.
“Damn, this hurts,” he groans, slowly sitting up and using his one free arm to help while the other sits in a sling.
He cringes in pain until he’s fully sitting up and then blows out a breath, turning slightly pale.
“It’s no hardship at all,” Simon says with a grin, pulling out Wade’s ice cream. “Even brought you a real spoon, but you’d better hurry up and eat this. Your nurse will kill us for bringing you sweets! She gave me a look yesterday. A look, Wade, when I snuck you cookies.”
“And it might melt,” I quip.