Kill Switch by Penelope Douglas

Distracted. That’s what I’d been.
“Sit her down,” Tara told Ethan. “I’ll go find the first aid
kit.”
I limped, but pulled myself up straight. “It’s in the
bathroom. I’ll be fine.”
“But you’re bleeding.”
“And I know how to operate a Band-Aid.” I laughed
through the pain. “GGo home. Ethan will help me. See you in a
couple days.”
I heard a little sigh as she debated on whether or not to
make sure I was okay, but she knew this wasn’t new for me.
I’d gone through my fair share of Band-Aids.
“Thanks for your help tonight,” I told her, slipping out of
Ethan’s hand to grab hold of his arm instead. “Later.”
After a moment, I heard the shuffle of her feet and
belongings as she picked up her jacket and bag. “Well, have a
good night, then. I’ll text you later, okay?”
I nodded, guiding Ethan toward the direction of her voice
to follow her out the door and toward the bathroom. He tried
to put an arm around me, but I waved him off.
We pushed through the doors—Tara veering left to the exit
and us heading right, toward the stairs.
“How long have you been here?” I asked him as we
descended to the lower level.
“Just arrived,” he said. “I had a study group that went late,
but I knew this might be the only chance to see you.”
Yeah. With the trouble on the road the other night, who
knew if he’d be admitted to the house. And if he were, how
would it play out once Damon came home.
Home. I held onto the railing as we took the stairs two
flights down, still holding onto Ethan with my other hand.
Damon—or his family—owned my home now, and while he’d
been clearly sleeping elsewhere all the nights since the