His voice was calm, but I could see the tension in his shoulders.
“Got it,” I kissed his shoulder, tore open an alcohol wipe and cleaned the injection site. His skin was warm under my fingers, the muscle firm beneath.
“How much?” I pulled the cap off the needle. Finn had been right, it was bigger than I’d expected.
“One milliliter. The whole vial.”
I drew air into the syringe first, then pushed the needle through the rubber stopper and injected the air before pulling back on the plunger. The clear liquid filled the chamber smoothly.
“You’re scary good at that,” Finn’s reflection smiled at me.
“I had a roommate in college who was diabetic. She taught me in case I ever needed to help during an emergency.”
“Now swap the needle,” Finn watched me in the mirror. “The one you used to draw gets dull. Fresh one for the injection.”
I twisted the needle off carefully and fitted the new one on. A gentle tap against the side of the syringe brought the tiny air bubble to the top. I pushed the plunger just enough to clear it, a small bead of liquid appearing at the needle’s tip.
I turned back to him, syringe ready. He braced his hands on the vanity counter, leaning forward slightly. “Okay, relax for me.”
He shifted his weight slightly, and I felt the tension ease under my other hand.
I took a breath, steadying myself.
“You’ve got this, darlin’. Just do it quick, like a dart.”
The needle went in clean and smooth. I pulled back slightly on the plunger, checking for blood. Nothing.
I pushed the plunger down slowly, watching the liquid disappear into the muscle below skin.
“There,” I pulled the needle straight out and immediately pressed a gauze pad to the site, keeping firm pressure as I set the syringe on the counter. “Done.”
Finn reached back to cover my hand with his. Our eyes met in the mirror, and something settled between us that had been fractured before.
“You’re a natural,” he smiled, turning around, pulling everything back up as he did. “Thank you.”
“I had a great teacher.” We gathered up the used supplies, disposing of the needle in the sharps container he’d placed under the vanity.
“So, question…” I started as we moved back to the room.
“What’s that?”
“What’s in the box we picked up earlier?” I tipped my head toward the small white package.
Finn’s ears went pink. Actuallypink.
“Just... something from the pharmacy.”
The way he said it, the careful nothing in his tone.
Oh.
“Finn Walker, you romantic. Is that for me?” I couldn’t help teasing him gently as my own cheeks warmed.
“Alex,” but there was a reluctant smile tugging at his mouth, and his ears were getting pinker.
“I’m just saying, cowboy. Very ‘I have a plan’ energy happening here. Very thoughtful.”
He caught my chin gently, tilting my face toward his. His eyes were warm. “Not a plan. Just... making sure I can take care of you.”
