Henry let out a humorless laugh that shook his big chest. "Then she'll really think something's wrong."
Chapter 18
Henry
Henry had never been the type of person to beat around the bush. He also really loved his little sister. These two things combined meant that he was able to make it about three minutes before going straight to Bailey to face the situation.
He stayed on the ranch that night after the heart to heart with his sister, and texted Amelia to see when she would be finished for the night. She said she was already finished shooting, and Henry asked her to meet him in the barn again.
It took her twenty minutes to make her way to the barn. Henry could hardly wait to see her, and he stood from his desk the second he heard her fidgeting with the door handle. She grinned when she came inside and saw him, and he went to her, picking her up and causing her to squeal as he twirled her around.
"What's this all abo—" but she cut off because he was moving in front of her face intensely, seeing her eye for the first time.
"Baby, Amelia, your eye."
"Aw, you called me baby," she said sweetly, smiling shyly at him.
"I know," he said, staring at her. "I'm sorry, it's because… I can't believe your eye. It's a big bruise, my girl."
He pulled her close and held her tenderly, wishing he had known how bad it was.
"Did this just show up, or was your make up that good when I saw you earlier?"
"Oh, no, it's been there. My makeup was that good. Barb has some stuff that's meant to cover tattoos. I just washed it off when I was done on set. I thought you went home for the night. I'm glad I got to see you again." She was soft and sweet, and she smelled nice. He pulled her to his chest gently, and she looked up at him.
"I talked to Bailey."
Her eyes widened, and she tilted her head at him before her expression crumbled in a look of dread and worry.
"No, no, it went well. It's all good. I'm glad I talked to her. That's why I wanted you to come in here. I wanted to tell you about it."
"What happened? What'd you say to her?"
"I went to Mom's. She was in her room, just lying in her bed." Henry paused because he could not stand the sight of that eye. It looked painful, and he cringed at the idea of the impact that must've caused it. He touched her face, cupping his hand around her cheek. "My love, if I had known this was this bad… I don't know what I would do. I don't know what to do about it now. I hate seeing this."
She gave him an adorable self-deprecating smile and shook her head. "The first time we met was worse," she said.
"I know, and I caused that one," he said.
He kissed her cheek, wishing he could make the bruise disappear.
"What did you say to Bailey? I can't believe you talked to her."
"I started by telling her that I like you. It was time we said that."
"What?"
"I had to," he said with a little shrug. "I had to tell her how I feel about you because it explains why you would feel compelled to tell me about it."
"And what did she say?"
"Well, she just blew past the part about us because she was so worried about getting in trouble. She got defensive, and it took us a little while, but ultimately, she was surprised that I was trying to be understanding. I told her I was going to follow through with those guys myself and not involve Mom and Dad."
"What do you mean that you're going to follow through with those guys. What do you plan on doing?"
"Me personally, nothing. One of our customers is a state police officer. I've already talked to him. He'll go by there and check them out. I am taking Bailey on a trip, though. Just to get a change of pace for her."
"That's great! You are? When? Where? Is she happy?"
