“Milton.” I see him say before he turns away from me and I can’t see what he’s saying. There’s a deep rumble of his voice filtering through my implant, but nothing more. There’s no clarity of words, and my mind is closer to being made up to just have the damn thing removed. It's not helping and only makes me angrier, more heartbroken when it doesn’t do its job. It doesn’t let me hear words. The only thing it does is make me feel more isolated.
Milton appears beside him, Lincoln there as well.
What happened?Lincoln signs.
“We need to take her to the hospital?” Milton says slowly.
“Stop!” Korbin says next, his hand hitting the table as it does. Did he scream it?
“I cut...” deep breath, “my finger. I’m fine,” I manage to say, hoping to calm the crazed alpha in the room.
“She’s not fucking fine. She almost cut her finger off because that knife was too fucking sharp,” Korbin replies, his peach-and-honeydew scent thickening with anger and protectiveness, crowding the air without him taking another step.
He’s patting my finger dry, then applying pressure again when he sees blood appear.
Milton sits down beside him and teases him. “Relax, man, she didn’t lose the finger.” He leans over, doing his own inspection as he opens the medicine box in his hand. “She doesn’t need stitches; it’s not that deep. We have some bonding glue that will work, and then we can put a band-aid on it.”
“You think you’re a doctor now.” Korbin’s face is stern, but he holds the edges of the cut together as Milton applies the glue. Lincoln sits down beside me, his body pressed firmly against mine.
“Fuck you, Korbin.” His brows furrow as they continue to work. Lincoln leans in, giving me a kiss on my cheek, and Milton looks up and winks as he finishes applying the glue. He waves his hand over it, helping it to dry before applying a band-aid.
“Thank… you. Korbin,” I say out loud, and I can’t help but feel something for him forming deep inside me when he smiles back at me.
“You’re welcome. I’m going to order us some food.”
I don’t get a chance to protest before he’s pulled out his phone, calling someone as he steps out of the room.
Being here has been amazing, but it’s not going to resolve the issues with my brother. Plus, if the press gets wind I’ve been staying here, it’s going to get worse. Korbin said one of histeammates even alluded to knowing I spent the night at least once. It was the day Milton was called in to practice. He didn’t want me here alone after what had happened that night with my brother.
Korbin steps back into the room, sitting back down in front of me. “I ordered some food from Taco Bell. A mix of everything.” He speaks slowly, making sure he looks right at me, and never covers his mouth. “I got you some nacho cheese and fries. Lincoln mentioned your obsession with dipping your popcorn in it; figured you did fries as well.”
“I do.” My voice comes out softer this time.
I pull my lower lip into my mouth as I debate how to tell them the next part. I see Lincoln’s phone sitting on the table, and I gesture toward it. He catches on to what I’m asking and hands it to me.
I hold it, open the notepad and start to type my message.
I want to thank the three of you for the past couple days. For being there for me. Caring about me, letting me open up to you. Most importantly for accepting me, flaws and all. But I need to go home tonight. I can’t go on without talking to my brother, face to face, and taking care of the issue between us.
I set the phone down in the center of the table so that they can all read at the same time. It’s Korbin who speaks first, his knuckles tapping on the counter, gaining my attention.
“You are not flawed.” He says each word slowly, but I know he means them. I can feel the truth in his words. “There’s nothing wrong with you, Bayleigh. Don’t ever let anyone tell you or make you feel differently.”
I signthank you, with tears welling in my eyes.
Lincoln slips his arm around my waist, his fingertips pressing into my side as Milton picks up the phone and types.
Do you want us to go with you? We will.
I glance at Lincoln and Korbin, who nod in agreement. These men have my heart, and they don’t even know it.
I know you would. But I think it’s best for me to speak with him alone.
Lincoln takes hold of my chin with his free hand, turning my face to him.
“But we are going to talk to him, Bayleigh. He’s not allowed to speak to you the way he did. Besides, we have to talk to him and your father about my formal intention to court you.”
My eyes go wide at his words, then shift over to Milton.
