“Damn it.”
He wrapped his hand up in a fresh bandage, then slumped against the gym with his eyes closed, waiting for Chad to return.
****
“All sorted?”Chad askedfrom the doorway.
Romeo glared at him.It felt like a day had passed.His stomach had given up demanding food.The over-tighness in his hand had spread down to his elbow.
“No.I need help to stitch it.”
“And I’m not that stupid.”Chad stepped inside and shut the door behind him.
“I couldn’t thread the needle.”
Chad frowned.“Oh.”He nipped his lip.“I’ll get you another, and thread it for you.”
He turned to leave.Romeo had an irrational urge to ask him not to go, but he managed to control it and pressed his lips in a firm line.
Chad returned with a new needle pinched between his thumb and forefinger.
“Shove the threads over here.”
Romeo hesitated before doing as Chad asked.
He threaded the needle with ease, set it down in the box, then slid it back.
Chad waited.
Romeo narrowed his eyes.“If you’re expecting a thank you, you’ll be there a long time.”
“I’m not expecting anything,” Chad said, sitting down on the floor.
Romeo eyed him.He looked tired.
“How was your session with Keeley?”
Chad shrugged.“Slow.Stop, start.”
“What does that mean?”
“It means we’re not used to each other anymore.I don’t know how I’m supposed to act, or what I’m supposed to talk about.”He sighed.“She’s trying to get me to relax, but...”
“But what?”
“It makes me uncomfortable.I’m worried if I let my guard down, I might accidentally mention I’ve got a serial killer chained up in my outhouse.”
“My Chad never slipped up with Keeley.”
“My Chad...I am your Chad.”
“Did your heart stop?”
Chad nodded.“Yes—
“Then you’re definitely not my Chad anymore.”
“That’s not...”Chad squeezed his eyes shut.He reopened them.“Are you fixing your hand or what?”
