?


    Tears were still running down Demi''s cheeks when the suddenly rented, "Hoses, the starving Grab me risotto,"


    "On it," I said quickly, "Want some meat, too?"


    She used to be all about meat-thenin about dieting right der


    "Meat helps you heal, right? Why not?" she replied with a yful grin, Ne the old Demi was still in there somewhere.


    Her smile hit me harder than her tears. How could she act so normal when I knew the wasn''t okay? I forced a grin. "Alright. Pork belly sound good? "Make sure it''s marbled, not all lean or fat," she quipped, her usual picky self.


    "Got it. Only the best for you," I promised, standing up.


    But instead of leaving, I hovered outside her door, leaning against the frame. A momentter, the sound of her quiet sobs slipped through.


    I pressed my back to the wall, eyes shut, my chest tightening like I couldn''t breathe. After a second to pull myself together, I headed out to grab her food. That''s when I ran into Jace.


    The second I saw him, my mind shed to the image of him coughing up blood-crimson dripping down his chin. It was so vivid, I couldn''t shake it. He spotted me too, but neither of us said anything


    He walked right past me, close enough for our shoulders to brush. No nce, no acknowledgment. Like I wasn''t even there.


    After ten years, four of them as a couple, that''s all we''d be-nothing


    And yet, maybe that''s what we were now. Just two people, no strings attached.


    "One order of pea risotto, slow-roasted pork belly, and a sd," I told the cashier, rattling off Demi''s favorites.


    Even though I knew she couldn''t eat much, I got her extra-just in case. A dessert, too, because she deserved something sweet.


    With the bag in hand, I left the restaurant. But there he was again-Jace, leaning against a


    car.Text property ? N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org.


    He ignored me earlier, but now he was clearly waiting. I didn''t say anything, just stared. “What are you doing here? Not feeling well?" he finally asked.


    It was a hospital cafeteria, so fair question.


    - 75 BONUS


    1 couldn''t bring up Demi, and Hayden was off-limits, so I lied, "I''m here for Lena."


    He nced at the takeout bag. "You''re still lying to me, huh?"


    1 hesitated, then shrugged. "Fine. It''s for Xander. He''s hurt."


    Wayne knew, Cole had seen him-Jace was bound to find out sooner orter.


    Jace''s face shifted, but barely. Thest time he''d heard Xander''s voice-or Hayden''s, really


    he ended up coughing blood. I bet part of him thought he''d have a chance now that Hayden was ''gone.


    But Xander being back? It messed with that fantasy.


    Not that it mattered. Jace and I were long over. No way was I going back.


    "Oh," he said casually. "Is it serious?"


    There wasn''t any real concern in his voice-just curiosity, maybe.


    "Not really," I said tly.


    Jace''s eyes flicked to the food. "Doesn''t seem like he''s in too much trouble if you''re buying enough for a whole party."


    I didn''t answer, and neither did he. The silence stretched between us, awkward and heavy. That''s when I noticed how bad he looked-thinner, tired. The weight loss didn''t suit him; it just made him look... off.


    "Goodbye," he finally said, turning to leave.


    "Goodbye," I whispered back, barely loud enough for myself to hear.


    I carried the food back to Demi''s room, but the moment I stepped out of the elevator, two guys in ck suits were waiting.


    They looked at me, then the bag.