Page 38 of Teddy Bear

I'm too tired to look at them.

-Lizzie, are you okay?

I nod, closing my eyes again.

-What happened?

I make an effort to speak through my teeth.

- Nothing, I just had a terrible hangover.

I open my eyes to meet Danny's suspicious gaze.

-What happened with your hands?

-I have no idea; I cut myself somehow. I'm telling you, it was crazy.

I hear Danny's soft, deep breathing, and I see an image of his lips kissing me hungrily as his voice deepens, almost growling; I try to push that image out of my head.

-Should I take you to the hospital?

-No.

I muster up enough determination and strength to sit up straight in my seat and move my hair out of my face. I straighten up to look as normal and conscious as possible.

-I'm fine, Danny. I just drank too much. My friend drove me to your house; I thought you were alone...

My voice cracks here, and a sad, heavy silence falls between us.

-I'm telling you, I'm fine; I just need to rest a little. Sorry to upset you and…Olivia.

I grit my teeth, desperately hiding all my hurt. I'm stone, I'm ice, I'm darkness that I'll be returning to soon; I just have to get rid of Danny first, once and for all.

-Lizzie, don't be angry with me. I really wanted to tell you, but there was no opportunity.

There was no opportunity.

Maybe you could have told me while you were pushing your tongue into my wide-open lips and enjoying my naked body; whatever, it doesn't matter anymore.

-It's okay. Don't worry. Just take me home.

I'm really making a superhuman effort to sound perfectly normal here, perfectly okay, perfectly sane. As good old Lizzie, Tyler Dawson's dutiful daughter who has gone a little bad.

-Are you sure?

I nod, now fully upright in the car seat.

-Yes.

Danny turns down the street that leads to our building.

-I'll stop by tomorrow to check on you, okay? Promise me everything is fine.

I even manage to smile; this all seems morbidly funny to me now.

-I promise.

I look out the window at the tall, beautiful building that Danny is parking in front of.