Chapter 22

Elena’s POV

“Should you be standing?”

My eyes fall to slits. “Fair warning, there are many sharp objects in this kitchen I can stab you with.”

“I will take that into consideration.” He smirks at me over the rim of his orange juice before taking a sip, wincing at the sting of the acidity on the cut in his lip.

“What happened to your face?” I ask.

“Robb.”

I lift my brows, surprised.

“And Rhick,” he adds.

“Because of…?”

He shifts uncomfortably on the stool, not meeting my eyes when he says, “You.”

Ah. So that’s why he called me up — because Robb and Rhick made him, not because he actually cares.

“They aren’t why I called, though,” he says, like he knew exactly what I was thinking. “I was going to call before they…well…” He motions to his face, then clears his throat. “I just didn’t really know what to say.”

“And now you do?”

“No.” He laughs humorlessly. “Not a damn clue, but I couldn’t just sit by and let you