I looked up at Con’s words. A cold, determined mask had settled over his features. Most of the time I forgot that Con had served in the Army. That undoubtedly he’d killed people. Like me, it could be hard to see past his ink.

“Any other injuries I didn’t see last night, Lee?” His jaw was set, as if he was bracing himself for what I might say.

I started to shake my head but stopped when it felt like my brain might fall out. “He didn’t … touch me. Well, other than to knife me. Asshole.” I looked down at my arms and the finger shaped bruises marking them. I held them out for Con to see. “I guess you can add more bruises and a hangover to the list, but that’s all.”

“Meant to ask you about that.” Con gently tilted my chin up, as if he wanted to make sure he had my attention. “What the fuck were you doing getting hammered, by yourself, and then wandering off into trouble? You’re smarter than that. Where the fuck was Duchesne while this was going down?”

I pulled my chin out of his grip and looked down at the sheet.

“I don’t know.” It was an honest answer. I had no idea where Simon had gone after I’d walked away and hadn’t looked back. I still couldn’t believe I’d done that. It hadn’t been my finest moment.

“What do you mean? He left you there? I’m gonna kick his—”

I laid a hand on Con’s arm. “No. It’s not his fault. He wasn’t there. I guess … well, I guess I broke up with him last night.” The last words came out in a single breath.

Con pulled back. “You left here all sunshine and rainbows, high on your new tat, and you’re telling me that between then and getting knifed, you guess you broke up with the guy you’re head over ass in love with?”

I fingered the edge of the sheet. “Yeah.”

“Jesus, Lee. Only you. Action-packed night.”

“Yeah,” I said again.

Con rolled off the bed and headed toward the doorway. “I’ll get you some ibuprofen for the hangover and everything else that ails you. You can hang here as long as you want, and you officially have the day off. I’ve gotta head down and open the shop in a few. I’ve got an appointment at two.”

I scanned the room but didn’t see Con’s clock. “What time is it?”

He looked down at his watch. “One-thirty.”

I bolted upright and my stomach roiled in time with my pounding head. “Shit. I’m supposed to be at work.”

“I called Yve. She’s cool.”

I moved my head slower when I looked over at him. “What did you tell her?”

“That you got drunk last night, needed a place to crash, and were going to be too hung over to make it in. She didn’t ask me too many questions, but I’m sure she’ll have plenty for you later.”

I grimaced. “I’m not looking forward to that conversation.”

“Called Harriet, too. She’s keeping an eye on Huck.”

I rubbed my swollen face. I was racking up debts all over town because of last night.

I carefully swung my legs over the side of the bed and looked around for my jeans. I spotted them crumpled up on the floor in the corner. I stood, wobbling a little, and holding my side. When the superglued seam didn’t tear open, and I didn’t puke after two steps, I figured I would probably live through the morning. I grabbed my jeans and my bloody, ruined tank top from beneath them. The shirt I tossed in the garbage. I shook out my black skinny jeans and saw several dark, crusty splotches. Shit. I thought for a second about tossing them in the trash too, but they were my favorite jeans. I didn’t know how to get blood out of denim, but apparently I was about to learn. I crossed to Con’s dresser to grab a shirt.

I pulled on a giant gray T-shirt stamped with ARMY across the chest, and flinched at the tug on my wound. My actions last night undoubtedly qualified me as ‘too stupid to live.’ All of my actions. Getting that drunk alone and walking away from Simon.

Why was I giving him up before I absolutely had to? It might have been naïve, but I was still holding out some hope that I could crack the damn code. And provided I could get Simon on board with me staying in the shadows when it came to his public life … maybe this could still work. For at least a little while longer.

Last night it had seemed like the only answer was walking away before I let myself fall any further. But who was I kidding? I was already too far gone. What was the point in trying to guard my heart now?

But what if Simon gave me another ultimatum? It would be a deal-breaker. I pushed the thoughts aside. I had to try.

Getting knifed in a dark alley gave a girl some perspective. I thought about what Yve had said about some things being worth fighting for. Whatever happened next, I couldn’t let it end like this.

Con strode into the room, interrupting my musings. He held out a glass of water, and dropped three ibuprofen into my hand. I swallowed them obediently and drank the entire glass.

“You good?”

I nodded and followed him out of the bedroom.

“I’ll walk you down then.” He paused as we reached the sofa, and I sat to pull on my Chucks. “Shit, you need a ride home. I can’t let you walk. Not like this.”

“It’s broad daylight. It’s no big deal.”

“And you got knifed last night.” He ran a hand through his shaggy hair. “I’m giving you a ride home.”

“No.” My tone was firm. “Seriously, I’ll be fine. I’ve got some shit to figure out, and walking helps me think. And it’s not like it’s even that far.”

Con scowled at me and looked down at his watch. “No.”

I glared back. “I’m walking. Don’t push me.” I gestured to my side. “You know what I did to the guy who did this?”

Con’s eyes narrowed as he shook his head.

“I kneed his balls up into his esophagus. Twice.”

He exhaled a long breath and rubbed a hand across his face. I could see just a glimpse of the weariness left over from his sleepless night. A sleepless night I was responsible for.

I could see that I’d won when he relaxed the stiff set of his shoulders. “Fine. But call me when you get there. Or I’ll be beating down your goddamn door.”

“It’s a deal.”

I followed him down into the shop and waited for him to unlock the door. Stepping out onto the sidewalk, I had to shade my eyes against the glare of the midday sun. I looked up at Con. I didn’t deserve friends like him.