I Deleted You Traitor Even My Blade Forgot Your Name novel Chapter 46

Middle of the night, my phone buzzed me awake.

t was one of Zach’s buddies–the same guy who once called me a “lovesick puppy.”

Nora, Zach got in a fight. Knife caught his right hand. Get to the hospital”

tis voice was panicked.

fter a pause, he added awkwardly:

It was over Gianna. Just… don’t be mad, okay?”

kept my tone even. “Okay.”

ilence.

Nora, are you-”

efore he could finish, I hung up.

o feelings. Just pissed my sleep got wrecked.

took my sweet time getting dressed before heading out.

nce, I babied Zach’s hands more than he ever did.

new he needed them for painting, so I never let him near the stove.

very winter, I’d hand–knit gloves so he wouldn’t get frostbite.

paper cut? I’d fuss over it for days.

still showed up at the hospital.

ot out of worry.

st figured… we’re supposedly “back together,” right? Skipping it would look weird.

‘hen I got to his room, voices drifted through the door.

emember three years ago? When Gianna went public with that boyfriend? Zach went off the rails. Drove like a lunatic at 2 a.m. Totaled his car.”

lassic Gianna effect. Dude’s usually Mr. Cool and Collected, but for her? All bets are off. And Nora actually thought he gave a damn about her.”

ight? When Zach crashed, Nora threw herself over him to protect his hands. Got her forehead split open–needed stitches. Know what Zach did when he oke up? Asked her out just to make Gianna jealous.”

1. ah. I chased Zach for years.

arted freshman year.

e was a year older–hot, insanely talented, total campus heartthrob.

joined the art club because of him. Brought him coffee every morning. Cleaned his brushes every day.

ven threw myself in front of a damn car to save his precious hands.

10:24

Inaland W

Chapter

When he said “let’s give this a shot,” I thought bed finally nettveil me.

Turns out? He only did it because Gianna posted her new boyfriend Pure spile.

“Oh… oh crap. Nora”

Someone saw ine

They all went stiff at once, guilt written all over their faces.

“Nora, we were just kidding around.”

“And…That’s all old news anyway.”

I didn’t bother responding.

Just nodded and walked past them.

Zach was propped up in bed. His eyes immediately dropped to my empty hands.

Like he needed me to see, he lifted his bandaged hand.

“Nora, I’m hurt.”

When I didn’t react, he squirmed.

“Gianna and I go way back. Someone was harassing her–what was I supposed to do? Nora, can you not blow this out of proportion? It’s not that serious.

I met his eyes. My face stayed blank.

I’m not blowing anything up. You’re hurt? See a doctor. Change the dressing. They’re YOUR hands. Never were mine to worry about.”

At my words, he went completely still.

Blinked a few times. Confusion crossed his face.

Then irritation.

Like he couldn’t figure out why I wasn’t sobbing over him anymore–why I wasn’t falling apart like I used to.

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hapter 9