Vex stepped out of the back room and spotted Summer slouched over the bar. “‘Ello love,” he greeted as he made his way over to stand on the other side of the bar, a glass of jack and coke in his hand.
Concerned, the Mesmer set down his glass and made his way over to the other side of the bar. Putting a hand gently on her shoulder, he bent his head to speak near her ear, where it’d be easy to hear him. “Summer, love? Are you okay?”
“‘I’m fine,” she lied. She turned her head a little, away, so there was no chance of him seeing the bruises patterning her left jawline. “I’m fine, Vex. I just needed a drink.”
He really didn’t believe her, and why would he? She never came to Carpe Noctem for just a drink; it was usually more of a visit, but today it was like she wanted him to leave her alone. ”Are you sure? There’s not anything wrong?” he asked, raising an eyebrow, “You can come upstairs with me and talk if there’s anything bothering you, love. You know that.”
She jerked up, forgetting she was trying to hide, and her hair tumbled back, revealing a cluster of fingertip-sized bruises on her cheekbone and a black-and-blue mark on her jaw. Her speech was a little slurred from the pain. “I can take care of myself!” Then she flinched and lifted the glass to press it against the bruise.