“Of course you are, love, but what’s done is done. I trust that you will figure out how best to handle this.” And just like that, the burden of fixing this messhad been lifted from Trevor and put on his father’s shoulders.
Kim winked at Trevor, and he sent back a silent kiss.
Daniel stirred, his eyes moving behind his eyelids. They all remained around him, tensely watching as he slowly regained consciousness. He blinked a few times before his eyes locked on Trevor, then he jolted and tried to move away.
Kim held him down. “Relax, dear. You’re safe.”
Daniel seemed even more startled when he realized he was lying shirtless with his head in Kim’s lap, her hand still on his chest. He looked down, narrowing his eyes at his bandaged leg.
“Andy, do you have something to say to Daniel?” Robert asked.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me too,” Trevor said.
“Daniel, you’re practically a grown man.” Robert's voice was a bit gentler. “If your brothers want you to do something reckless—refuse.”
“Ididrefuse, but they wouldn’t listen. They made me fall, and—”
“Did they shove you down the hill?”
“Well, no.”
“Then please keep your accusations to the truth. Trevor and Andy were very upset when they brought you here.”
“I sure was!” Andy called.
Daniel smartly let it go and glanced at his leg. “I need a doctor.”
“A nice shower and some painkillers will fix you right up,” Kim said, leaning a bit lower, the bottom of her breasts resting on Daniel’s head.
Classic Kim. Trevor held back a chuckle. The look on Daniel’s face was priceless, his mouth hanging like a fish.
“It hurts,” he said in a small voice. “Not just in my leg.”
“Go get him some painkillers,” Robert told Andy, who hurried away.
The room grew quiet. Daniel lay stiffly, his eyes darting as if searching for the exit sign. Kim continued to stroke his chest, bluntly ignoring his obvious discomfort.
“I want to sit,” Daniel said in a hoarse voice.
“You’re still weak, hon. You should—”
Daniel roughly pushed himself away from Kim and slid to the other side of the couch. He crossed his arms and looked at the floor, his jaw set. “I would like a shirt.”
“Go wash yourself first.” Kim sniffed and made a face. “Was it not common for boys in the group home to use deodorant?”
Ooh, snap.
Daniel held his arms tighter around his chest, his face no longer pale due to his growing flush. “We used deodorant.”
“Good. Hygiene is very important in this house. You—”
“Kimberly, enough.” Robert placed a hand on Daniel’s shoulder. “The kid has been through a lot.” He took the orange juice Andy had brought and gave it to Daniel. “Drink up, son.”
Robert Mitchell had very few fatherly qualities, and this was clearly an act meant to put down the fire. Still, it irked Trevor to see this display of warmth toward someone who had only recently got here.
Andy came back with a bottle of painkillers. Robert took two pills and handed them to Daniel, who drank them down with the juice.
