“What the fuck, Lina?!”
Pauly presses an icepack to my face while Jeremiah works the zipper down my back. I hiss when the fabric drags over my ribs. I’m praying they’re just bruised, not broken.
“I’m gonna kill him,” Pauly growls.
“You should see the other guy,” I mutter.
Jeremiah pauses. “Seriously?”
I was trying to sound cavalier. Apparently it didn’t land.
“It was a date,” I sigh. “A bad one. He got a couple hits in before I remembered I know self-defense.”
Ugh. Who even does that? Who just starts hitting their date?! I really know how to pick ‘em.
“You remembered fast enough to not be dead,” Pauly snaps. “Doesn’t mean this is okay.”
He’s right. I know he is. But I also don’t want him going off the rails.
I rest my hand on his forearm. He’s tense, solid, thrumming with anger.
“I’m fine,” I say gently.
“You’re not fine!” he fires back. “Jesus, Lina. You’re in Atlanta. Surrounded by criminals. You can’t keep pretending it’s the suburbs.”
I exhale slowly. The icepack stings against my skin. “Ihandled it.”
“That’s not good enough.” He softens his tone, but not by much. “I love you. But your innocence shines like a damn lighthouse. You draw in sharks.”
“I’m not innocent,” I snap before I can stop myself.
“I know you’re not. But you look like you are.” He sighs. “And that’s the problem.”
Jeremiah straightens, fingers light but careful as he helps me into pajamas. “It’s time for an upgrade.”
“An upgrade?” I repeat, feeling slow.
“A makeover!” he crows, clapping like he just won a prize.
“Oh God.”
“Oh yes!” he beams. “Tomorrow. Our treat.”
Pauly nods. “We’re gonna scrub that good-girl glow right off you.”
“I do not have a good-girl glow,” I grumble.
They both laugh. Jeremiah kisses the top of my head. “You’ll thank us later.”
He tilts his head. “You in?”
My ribs ache. My face is a mess. And honestly? I’m tired of being seen as soft. “Yes.”
“Perfect! Be ready at ten. We’re having a girls’ day, bitch!”
∞∞∞
I wake up to a black eye and stiff ribs, but nothing’s broken. I’m lucky, all things considered. Give it a week and I’ll look human again. Maybe.
