LO CLINGS TOme as Caz opens the door to Galen’s private room. Theo has gone back to the house to grab clean clothes for all of us. We’ll freshen up here as there isn’t enough time to go home before the funeral service begins.
“Hey.” Lo’s voice is soft as Galen’s eyes flicker open and his head turns toward her. Alisha—Galen’s mom—is conked out on a chair, softly snoring.
“Angel.” Galen’s voice is gruff and sleep heavy. He’s been sleeping most of the past three days as well; although, he’s been awake for longer periods in between, refusing extra pain meds because he’s desperate to get back on his feet.
I have never been as scared as I was back at the school. We thought we’d lost them.
The scene was a fucking mess. Debris strewn everywhere. Billows of acrid smoke stinging our eyes. Our ears ringing from the noise of the detonation. The bomb drew everyone from school outside, and it was pandemonium. When we finally got to Lo and Galen, they were unconscious on the ground, covered in shit from the explosion.
Because they were closer to the car than us, they suffered the brunt of the damage. Galen was lying on top of Lo, his body shielding hers from the debris, but I worried he’d broken her pelvis or forced all the air from her lungs. Waiting for the EMTs to show up was excruciatingly painful, because we were afraid to move either of them, and we honestly didn’t know if they were going to make it.
“You’re my hero,” Lo tells my cousin, bending over him to plant a light kiss on his lips. “You saved me. Saved us.”
“I’ve been so worried about you,” Galen admits, inching to the side of the bed and opening the covers. He pats the space beside him. “Come here.”
Caz helps Lo up beside Galen, and my chest tightens as her gown opens at the rear, exposing the multicolored bruising covering her back, distracting from the gorgeous ink on her skin. Caz and I exchange a look before flopping into the empty seats by Galen’s bed.
I know the guys feel the same way I do. I want to gut Taylor Tamlin from head to toe, slice layers off her skin, gouge her eyes from their sockets, and rip her insides to shreds, until she’s nothing more than a nonexistent bloody mess on the floor.
How fucking dare she come after us.
How dare she attempt to take the only girl who has ever mattered from us.
Lo cautiously snuggles into Galen’s side, her fingers lifting to the sling on his arm and then on to the myriad of cuts and bruises marring his pretty-boy face. “You got hurt protecting me.” She looks directly into his eyes. “I won’t ever forget that.”
“You’re evenity now,” Caz says, his lips twitching.
“Evenity isn’t a word,” I deadpan, humoring him because we could fucking use it.
“It is according to theurban dictionary.” He lowers his tone so it’s almost reverential.
Dude’s got issues.
“I like that one,” Lo proclaims, grinning at him as she lifts her arm for a knuckle touch. “And for the record, we were already evenity.” She returns her gaze to Galen, and they share a moment. “Galen doesn’t have anything to prove to me.”
Galen lightly clasps her face, kissing her. They engage in a whispered conversation, in between kissing, and I stand, walking to the window, affording them some privacy. I shove my hands in my pockets as I glance out the window. Caz comes up alongside me, his eyes studying me. “What?” I ask.
“I thought you were past the jealousy.”
“I am,” I admit, and it’s not really a lie. Ihavelearned to share her, and it pleases me they were able to move beyond Galen’s sick betrayal, but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dying to kiss her and hold her and tell her how I feel.
The first twenty-four hours after the explosion were a nightmare. Lo was heavily sedated, and the longer she slept, the more I worried she wouldn’t ever wake up. That she wouldn’t know how deep my feelings run. I made a promise to myself I’d tell her the first opportunity I get.
I want nothing left unsaid between us.Nothing.
“I’m giving them some alone time,” I add when Caz doesn’t look convinced. “And I’m looking forward to some alone time of my own.”
Caz smirks, and I elbow him. “Not like that, asshole. She’s injured.”
“Bet she’s still as horny as ever.” He waggles his brows. “And we’ve got to look afterallour girl’s needs.”
Now it’s my turn to smirk. “Well, when you put it like that. Can’t let our girl down.” My cock twitches at the thought of Lo’s gorgeous, sexy body, and I adjust myself in my jeans as blood rushes south and my dick hardens. Caz chuckles as the door opens, and Theo slips into the room.
Alisha wakes, kissing her son goodbye and tossing us a wave before she leaves. She has been here every day, and she appears to be making an effort to stay sober for her son although we all know it won’t last long. At least, she’s trying.
Giana has been here every day too, but she doesn’t linger, and I’m grateful because with Giana comes Sinner, and none of us want my prick of a father around our girl. He turned up the first day, but it was just for show. He’s probably wishing Taylor Tamlin had succeeded in eliminating Lo as a threat and solving one problem for him. But hell will freeze over before I let that asshole harm one more hair on my girlfriend’s head.
If there is anything good to come from this, it’s that Sinner’s twisted plans to enjoy Lo with his creepy buddies is on ice. I intend to exaggerate her injuries for as long as we can get away with it, hoping it’ll buy us enough time to come up with a way of extracting her from that aspect of her initiation.
