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I shut the door behind us, hoping we wouldn’t be disturbed by the errant nurse checking on my sister. Allie looked the exact same as when I’d last seen her: the bland expression of slumber, her pale hands at her sides. She was begging to be kissed by the sun, which was always out of her reach, no matter how wide we yanked open the curtains.
Graham came in behind me to look at Allie, his breath catching as his eyes pored over her face. I led him closer so our thighs were pressed against her bedrail. He had the strangest look on his face. I observed him watch my Allie with something that could only be described as rapture. “I... This is her? Of course it’s her. She looks just like you, but not. You’ve got that way about you, and she’s...” I didn’t know how he was planning on finishing that sentence, but the tender expression on his face told me he saw what was obvious – that Allie was a beautiful woman, even lifeless as she was. No makeup, no fancy clothing, and my Allie was still a showstopper.
Standing by Allie’s bedside tied a knot in my chest as I tried to find the right words to say. As it was, I’d barely said hello before my mouth sealed itself shut.
Graham sat in the chair near the window and pulled out his earbuds. “Feel free to talk away. I’ll be properly distracted. I would offer to leave you alone, but I promised Ezra you wouldn’t be out of my sight. He said nothing about earshot, though.”
“Thanks, Graham.” The second Graham closed his eyes and laid his head back in the chair by the window, I slid the bedside chair up to my motionless sister and unloaded, my guts spilling out all over her. Allie had to merely exist for my world to feel somehow anchored. Even though the pieces were smashed and shattered, there was hope. Allie could fix anything, even if she couldn’t fix herself just yet.
I confessed the whole story about Philip, and how he was the same guy who stole her away from her life. We’d both fallen for the same mirage. I told her about September, and the horrible birth that scarred me deeper than I liked to admit to the others.
But it was Allie. She could see right through me, even with her eyes closed. I’d never seen much point in lying to her or holding back.
Telling her about Von took longer. I started from the beginning, letting her in on the ups and downs, the passionate collisions and the separations that were always horrible and without good reason, but then somehow with good reason when the full story came out. I showed her my ring, knowing she’d gawk at the rock that still felt obnoxiously big to me.
Since we were in no hurry, I delved into the beginning – my introduction to Terraway, and all of its magic that had only dimmed my world in the end. I told her about my awakening, about Mason and Von binding themselves to me. I took her through each world, introducing her to my friends and enemies.
My version of Dagat wasn’t colored with all the sordid details, but I did mention that Finn and I had indulged a little before Von and I got together for real. I tried to make the whole visit G-rated, but after a few almost lies, my conscience got the better of me. I’d never been able to lie to Allie.
“Okay, fine!” I threw my arms up, exasperated that as usual, she could still see right through me with her eyes closed. I covered my face with my hands, embarrassed. “I fell hard for Finn. I let him suck on my toes because he’s got a foot fetish. And you know what? It was amazing! But it wasn’t always about the physical connection. I didn’t realize what a sucker I am for a guy reading to me, but man, I totally am. But it’s long over, okay? I was torn, but I haven’t been for a while.” My voice lowered. “And that’s the whole truth. I’m a whore. I let Finn suck on my toes once, so I’m a giant whore! Just say it!” I shook my head at myself. “Okay, twice. Maybe a few times when I was staying at his place. But Von and I weren’t together, and I put a stop to things the second it got real. Does it make me a skank if I liked it?”
A low chuckle escaped Graham, making my head shoot up in his direction. He tried to stifle the mistake, but it was clear he’d been listening in. I gasped in horror, standing with heat coloring my cheeks. “You said you wouldn’t listen!”
Graham belted out a laugh as I ran around the bed to swat at him over and over. He held up his arms to shield himself from my wrath. “To answer your question, yes. Only the skankiest skanks like their toes licked. You’re one filthy vixen!”
I straightened, horrified. “You don’t know what you’re talking about!”
Graham stood, a wicked grin on his face. “Captain Finn has a foot fetish, eh? I guess that makes sense. Boy, it’s a good thing you’ve got your shoes on. I don’t know if I’d be able to control myself.” He laughed when I swatted at him again. “Does Von know about your unusual preference?”
I gasped, scandalized. “You’ll not mention a word of this to Von. Finn would be so embarrassed if it got out that he... If you value your life, you’ll keep your mouth shut about everything you swore you wouldn’t hear. And by ‘life’, I mean ‘your testicles’.”
Graham turned to the bed and shot Allie a conspiratorial look. “What are we going to do with her? Asking military men to suck on her toes in broad daylight! What’ll the neighbors say?”
I huffed, throwing my hair over my shoulder. “Hush, you. Allie, I’ll be back without this joker next time. Hang tight, girl. I’ll figure this out. I’ll bust you out of this hospital in no time.”
Graham stifled his laugh and tried to present a sober nod to my sister, which I appreciated. He popped out his elbow to me. “Shall we?”
“Are you kidding me? After that skank crack? You can escort yourself.”
Graham bowed his head with a snigger as he opened the door. “After you, Lady October. Until we meet again, Lady Allison.”