Crimson Groves by Ashley Robertson

back.
    So without even moving, I was back at the mirror again, staring blankly at it.
    Although I wanted to tell Lily how horrible Bronx really was and how I would flee from here in a New York second if I got the chance, I couldn’t risk her having that knowledge. Bronx could easily persuade her and find out anything I had shared with her. Some secrets are best kept that way. Actually all of them are.
    There was movement in the corner of my eye. Footsteps whispered closer. I didn’t need to look to know who it was. It was Lily. She walked right up to me and threw her arms around me, her body so warm and inviting. Her pulse was even, steady. I returned the embrace. A flush of warmth shot up my neck, inside my head.
    “It’s going to be okay,” she whispered. “You’re going to be just fine. Plus, you should be extremely excited about tonight. You’re getting out of this house and that should help you feel a lot better.”
    I nestled deeper inside the hug, completely speechless.
    Lily is a little taller than me by a couple inches or so, and her skin is the color mine used to be: lightly tanned. We wear the same size, which was how I had the extra clothes here. She came twice in the first week after I was turned, the second time bringing me three pairs of jeans and three tee shirts. Thank God for her, since all I had before that was my work uniform.
    “Okay. You’re right.” I nodded, pulling out of her arms.
    She smiled at me with those beaming brown eyes and then grabbed the brush lying on the vanity in the bathroom. She ran it through my hair one last time.
    “Go on now before he comes in here to get you,” she teased.
    “Will you stay? I know you must want to get home, but I could really use your company. Just a little while longer.”
    “Adam will be here soon. I’d love to stay, but I don’t think it’s such a great idea. But I’ll see you again at Pulse.” She hesitated for a moment, brown eyes still locked on me.
    “Okay. I guess that will work.”
    The friendship forming between Lily and I was unlike any of my friendships when I was human. It was special and wonderful, and very terrifying. The sting of what Mandy and John did still lingered inside me like a smell that never leaves your nose. And yet with Lily, I’d let most of my guard down, which was something I’d never imagined doing again.
    Without lingering another moment, I headed out of the bedroom, holding my non-existent breath as I walked toward the living room. It was showtime.
    Bronx admired me from across the room, smile gleaming, tongue dancing over his lips, and eyes sparkling like twin stars. Then he flashed over to me. “You look gorgeous.” He brushed his fingers through my hair.
    “Thank you.” I took a step backwards. He grabbed a handful of my hair, jerked me back to him. It stung a little.
    “Abigail, Abigail, always trying to get away from me. The day is coming when you will no longer make those efforts.”
    Every insult you can imagine built up inside my throat, but I swallowed them back down and just smiled. Several awkward minutes passed by and then he finally let go of my hair. I turned and flashed back to the bedroom. Lily helped me try on the other things while she waited for Adam to pick her up.
    A black pencil skirt with a pale pink silk, button-up top—both skin-tight—presented another uncomfortable moment with Bronx. This time he leaned in and kissed my cheek. There was also a baby doll-styled dress. I liked it much better than the last one. It was black with red lace on the chest area. There was a low scooping neckline that looked really sexy. It sat high above my knees, and my work shoes, the black Dr. Marten’s mid-calf boots, looked amazing with it.
    And last, there was a dark pair of designer jeans with white stitching detail around the pockets. Those paired nicely with a white V-neck cotton tee. Bronx loved the dresses the most and told me to wear the one I liked best. That was an easy decision for