Page 49 of Perfect Liar

“Your mind isn’t clear. We need to get fluids in you.”

I dug my fingers into his arm, and he pressed my face against his bare chest, kissing the top of my head.

“I won’t let go, Elle. I promise.”

My body, my lips trembled.

“S-so cold.”

Will stretched to reach his phone and called his younger brother in England.

“Thomas, have a paramedic waiting, and not a fucking ambulance driver. What? You’re breaking up...”

After the call cut off, he lifted me from the floor, tucked me into the bed, then went to the front of the plane, quickly returning with a sports drink.

He took off his jeans and got beneath the blankets with me.

Will’s skin seared mine as he pulled me against his body and put his scorching arms around me. The kisses he placed on my forehead and my temple were like fire.

“Try to sip on this drink,” he said.

I shook my head.

“I’ll give you a couple minutes, then you must.”

My ice-cold body melted into Will’s heat. My trembling slowed to light shivering, and at some point, soothed by the thundering of his heartbeat against my face, I fell asleep.

But he woke me over and over to make me drink.

And I did drink, but after the last time, another wave of nausea rolled through my wasted body.

Will put the blanket around me, and we sat on the lavatory floor again. He gathered my hair and waited patiently.

I fell back against him and closed my eyes.

“Open your eyes, Elle,” he ordered.

I tried but I couldn’t focus on his eyes.

“Do not shut your eyes, goddamn it.”

But I had nothing left to give, so I let my lids shut, leaving my fate in his hands.

Senseless, daunting thoughts ran wild inside my head, tormenting me. I couldn’t fight the dark, eager lyrics in my mind…the thoughts convincing me I couldn’t feel my heart, telling me someone had killed me.

I’d fallen very ill, but that wasn’t the worst part.

My mind really had broken.

CHAPTER 15

ENGLAND, UK

Will wrapped his arms around me from behind as I stared out the bedroom window.

I hadn’t said a word in two days. But the rainy weather had finally ended, and my silence needed to end as well.

“You can’t stay in this room with me forever,” I said.