Austin freezes, his lips turning down at the corners. “What? No. God no, Luc.”
Fuck. Why would he be? I didn’t do anything wrong. Damien did. I nod. “Okay. Good. I’m starving.”
A blinding smile lights up Austin’s face. “Good.” He sits down on the couch, placing both plates in front of him on the table. “Come on, then.”
I sit down beside him, letting the scent of the soup infiltrate my senses. I groan at the smell. I can’t help it. Holy fuck, it’s been so long since I’ve had Deb’s cooking. Austin chuckles. “Dig in.”
Don’t have to tell me twice. I lean forward carefully, then decide that I don’t want to take any chances on spilling any soup, so instead I slide off the couch onto the floor, resting my back against it.
The first bite is actual heaven. Warm and hearty. I close my eyes as the flavors explode across my tongue. Then I pick up the grilled cheese and take a bite. It’s so good. Austin wasn’t kidding. He can make some damn good grilled cheese. “It’s not as good as your mom’s,” I tease, glancing up at him. “It’s alright, though.”
His lips turn up at the corners as he shakes his head at me. “You’re a liar. I make it the same way she does.”
I shrug, shoving another mouthful of soup in my mouth. “Must not. Otherwise it would be as good as hers.”
Austin scoffs but doesn’t have a response to that.
It really is as good as Deb’s, but I like this—our easy banter, the light conversation. It feels like nothing’s changed, like the years of spotty contact and me pulling away didn’t do any real damage to our friendship. It still feels comfortable and familiar. Like we did this last week and not years ago. And right now? I need that. I needto know that I can still be Luca. That the bruises and scars on my body don’t define me. That Austin sees me asmorethan that.
By the time my belly is full, I’m nearly falling asleep on the floor.
“Hey, Luc?”
“Mmm?” I hum, fighting to keep my eyes open.
“Climb up here if you’re going to fall asleep. Can’t have you giving yourself a crick in the neck.”
He’s most likely right. It’s not like my neck could possibly hurt worse than it already does, but I still probably shouldn’t push it. I lift myself onto the couch and curl up on the end, drawing my knees to my chest.
“Let me get you some more medicine, alright?” Austin asks, but his voice is already fading, my mind already fading too. God, I’m so fucking tired. I hope I can sleep until tomorrow.
Something soft and warm lands on me, but I’m too out of it to pay much attention to what it is. I think I hear Austin tell me I’m safe here, but I can’t be sure.
Chapter 8
Austin
Luca’sbeenasleepforover an hour. I really wanted to convince him to take my bedroom, but I also don’t want to wake him up. It’s a little unsettling that he could even sleep at all. I know the medication he took before our flight has to have worn off by now.
How many times has this happened? Where he’s covered in bruises like this, where Damien has assaulted him, for him to just sleep like it’s nothing? Like he’s not in pain. Like he doesn’tfeelit.
I pick up our plates and bowls, then carry them into the kitchen to put them in the sink. Luca used to be able to sleep like the dead. Nothing would wake him up once he’d fallen asleep, but now? Now I don’t know. Will doing the dishes disturb him? I’m not willing to risk it.
I need to get him a phone and probably a winter jacket. It likely won’t be long before we have the first snow of the season. I wasn’t watching intently when he was packing his things, but I was watching closely enough to know that he doesn’t have a coat or anything heavy-duty for winter.
Anything I own would swallow him whole.
We have time, though. At least a few more weeks, so I can get it taken care of soon. Hopefully, he’ll have healed from most of his physical injuries, and he’ll be able to go with me. I’m just hoping he’llwantto go with me.
That’s a problem for the future. For tonight, I need to get some sleep. I shut off the lights, then make sure the blanket I placed over Luca is still covering him well before I go into my room.
I don’t shut the door like I usually do. The firefighter in me can’t sleep knowing how much safer it is for your bedroom door to be closed, but for tonight, and maybe even the foreseeable future, I want my door open in case Luca needs me.
WhenIwake,it’sto the sound of pans in the kitchen and the smell of bacon. Confused, I sit up, rubbing a hand down my face as I look around the room.
Luca must be making breakfast. Why would he be doing that? He needs to be resting.
I jump out of bed, shivering at the slight chill in the air. Maybe I’ll need to get Luca warmer clothes sooner rather than later. I tossa hoodie on and step into the living room.
