Chapter 96

Arrick picks me up outside my bedroom door, being lame about carrying me over the threshold, and orders me to close my eyes. I eye him warily, grinning like a weirdo, and cover my eyes with my free hand as I cling around his neck childishly. I have the giggling fits after our stealth maneuvers to get in here undetected. All it does is highlight how drunk he is when we almost fall into rose bushes in the onset of drizzle when he tries to piggyback me across the garden before we get soaked.

“Are they closed?” He nudges me, and I hear him messing with the door to open it while still holding me up. The slight sway as we stand here has me a little seasick, though, and I wish he would hurry up. The fresh air just made my queasiness intensify.

“Yup” I peek at the side of his face and melt with how ready I am for him to get the door open.

“Okay. Now.” Arrick walks us forward, and I drop my hand as I look around the room for the first time since I got ready here this mornin