The little kelpie sits on my bed, makes himself comfortable and places a towering plate of cookies on my lap.
“Thanks,” I grumble as I reluctantly shuffle up to a sitting position.
The cookies do smell good. And it is impossible to stay grumpy at Lello. He is just too damn sweet and innocent. Being mean to him makes me feel like the worst kind of monster.
Lello stares at me with big blue eyes. I sigh in surrender and stub out my smoke. Then I pick up a cookie and take a bite. Solid food isn’t the best, and it’s not like I really need it, but I can still appreciate taste and flavors. That’s one thing that hasn’t been taken from me.
“Delicious,” I say, and Lello beams with pride.
“How are you, Ned?” asks Pink solemnly.
I look away from the concern in his eyes. People being nice to me is unnerving. I’m not sure if I will ever fully get used to it. In fact, I’m not sure if I even want to become accustomed to it. Right now, I’d love nothing more than to be left alone. But these guys aren’t going to leave until they are sure I am okay.
“Fine,” I mutter.
Jeez, that sounded pathetic and pitiful, even to my own ears. I’m not going to be fooling anyone with that. I need to up my game.
Lello pats my arm. “When Daddy died, I thought the world was ending, but then Carter came along and now everything is wonderful.”
Oh for fuck’s sake. I shove another cookie in my mouth so I don’t have to say anything. Usually I can let Lello’s infatuation with Ritchie wash over me. I know it is not the kelpie’s fault. Ritchie bit him and forced a mate bond, and that makes kelpies go all super sappy and devoted and shit.
But the fact that Lello still finds it hard to see Ritchie for the vile, rapist, piece of shit he was, is not something I’m in the mood to deal with right now.
Pink coughs. “In the harem, everything seemed so utterly hopeless and pointless. But life is so much brighternow.”
Oh lord. Time to nip this in the bud. I can’t take anymore. It’s time to take a deep breath and place my half-eaten cookie back on the plate.
“Guys, relax. I’m not about to yeet myself into the sun, so you can chill with this intervention bollocks.”
Pink and Lello stare back at me with very unconvinced expressions.
I roll my eyes and try again. “I’ve been dumped and I’m probably never going to see my great-great-grandkids again. I’m allowed to mope around in bed for a few days.”
Lello pats my shoulder again.
“Of course you are,” says Pink. “We just wanted to make sure that you knew you weren’t alone.”
I open my mouth. Then I close it again. “Thanks,” I mumble weakly. There really isn’t anything else to say. They are both being lovely and I do appreciate it. Despite the fact that I’m a grumpy asshole.
Pink smiles, then he wraps his hand around Lello’s arm. “Come on, Lello. Ned wants to be alone right now.”
Lello clambers off my bed, but he shoots me a worried look. “Is that true?”
I nod. I’m surprised that Pink is so perceptive, but I’m not going to deny it. Lello and Pink are being lovely, but I’ve always dealt with shit on my own. It is the only way I know.
“Okay, well, if you need anything, just shout. We could do a movie night if you like?”
“I’ll let you know,” I say, and I almost sound normal.
Pink drags Lello away and the door softly shuts. I sigh and let my head fall back against the headboard. Blissful solitude. Even if it does feel a little lonely now, after that invasion.
I place the plate of cookies on the bedside cabinet and retrieve my cigarette and relight it. That’s better. Now, what was I doing before I was interrupted? Ah, yes. Lying around feeling sorry for myself.
Frigging hell. I’m so pathetic. But what else am I going to do? Morgan doesn’t need more apologies from me. He needs time and space. He has all the facts now, it’s up to him to weigh up the evidence and be my judge and jury. There is not one single thing I can do or say that is going to make this any better. Or sway the outcome. I am completely powerless.
Suddenly, my attention is drawn to the shadows in the corner of my room. Goosebumps erupt over my flesh. A pair of glowing red eyes are visible for a few seconds before Gray steps into my room.
I sit up straight. “Hi, Gray.”
