Page 98 of Wicked Knight
She squeezes her eyes shut for a moment then pulls me in for a hug. "I'm so sorry," she mutters in my ear.
"Me, too," I breathe out, realizing I've fallen into yet another hole.
Ryan is one more problem.
And it looks like I'm destined for a disaster.
The darkness of the college theater is a welcome break.
The English class is starting the day off by watchingFrankenstein. It's the Kenneth Branagh version with Robert De Niro and Ian Holm, my favorite. Although I got here purposely late.
I didn't want to sit with my friends. I can see them in the middle row— Isabelle, Annika, Sawyer, and Savannah.
They were probably looking for me before the lights went out.
The only one of them who's aware of my situation is Isabelle. I don't want to make things awkward for the others by making them feel like I didn't want to tell them what was happening to me.
I also don’t want to talk. The more I do, the worse I feel.
The movie starts, and we’re a minute in when someone sits right next to me. I find it odd given there's a whole row of empty seats on my left and right. And the rows before me don't have many people.
The person rests their hand on my thigh, and I nearly jump out of my skin.
I snap my head around to ask them what the hell they're playing at, but I'm stunned when I come face to face with Dmitri in a hooded sweatshirt.
I'm so shocked to see him I can barely breathe, and I experience a range of emotions that runs from shock to relief, to fear, then back to relief again.
When he gives me a wolfish grin, it’s as if nothing ever happened and we could be back at our little apartment again, away from the world and its problems.
I open my mouth to speak, but he slips his hand over my jaw and pulls me in for a kiss.
At first, I sink into him, relishing this moment and wondering if I've fallen asleep again. Then I realize this is no dream.
The problems are still there, and I'm not supposed to be with him.
God, things are worse than ever with Ryan's threats looming over my head.
I pull out of the kiss, but Dmitri grips my hand.
“We need to talk,” he whispers.
“No.” I shake my head.
“Baby, I need to talk to you.”
Baby.That’s the first time he’s called me that. The endearment sounds sweet enough to lure me back into him, but I need to be strong.
“Dmitri, we can’t be seen together.”
I try to keep my voice down, but the guy in front of us turns around and glares at us.
“Can you be quiet?” he scoffs.
Dmitri leans closer and flicks his hood back so the guy can see his face. The instant he realizes who he's talking to, he looks like he's going to shit himself.
“Get the hell up. Or I’ll cut out your tongue,” Dmitri snaps at him. He’s not loud but loud enough to elicit a few curious stares.
With the fear God writhing through him, the guy scrambles to his feet and moves, not just down one row but right across to the other side of the theater.