His voice washed over me, warming me. “You’re in my bed.”
“Yes. I’m helping you tonight, and I need to make sure you’re safe. Could you sit up, and we’ll take your jersey off?”
“Uh, sure.”
He helped me sit up, his touch gentle, like I mattered to him. My thoughts were fuzzy, and my heart ached. We were broken up, yet we never dated. Why would he be here?
“Good girl. Okay, arms up, slowly.”
I obeyed, my head hurting as more questions filled it. “Why are you… what’s…”
“Hey,hey.” He took off my shirt and tossed it on the ground before tilting my head toward him. “I will answer every question after you sleep. The first two days after a concussion are hard, so I don’t want you to worry about anything except resting. Can you do that for me?”
I frowned, something nagging me, but I couldn’t place it. It was like trying to catch smoke from a burning match. It disappeared as soon as I saw it.
Luca caressed my face, his lips curving up on the side. “I can hear you thinking. Relax. I’m not going anywhere.”
“Okay.”
“Do you want your sports bra off or on?”
“Off.”
“I’m going to remove it, okay? Then we’ll get you comfy, and you can sleep more.” Luca dipped a finger under the band and pulled the fabric over my breasts and head.
I never thought we’d be in this position again, but Luca didn’t stare at my chest at all. He tossed the bra on the floor and quickly put a shirt over my head. It was large and warm and smelled amazing. “It smells like you.”
“It’s my shirt. It’s comfy, and I figured it’d be easy to get on without pain.”
“Mm.” I burrowed into it, inhaling the detergent scent. “Thank you.”
“Of course, anything.” He pulled me to him again, wrapping his arms around me and nuzzling his nose along my neck. “Rest, and tomorrow we can chat more.”
I woke up with my hands inside Luca’s shirt. He wore sweats that sat low on his hips, and in the morning fog, I forgot what day it was. I just wanted to feel his skin on mine. I crawled onto him so I lay on top of him, like I was his personal blanket, and he laughed.
“Good morning to you too.” He kissed my temple and ran his hands down my back. “How’s the head?”
“Bad. But not like jackhammers.” I snuggled into his neck, not caring that this wasn’t appropriate. “No lights though.”
“You got it. No lights, no thinking, no screen time. Those are the rules.” He held me against him, one hand on the back of my head and the other on the lower part of my back. His grip tightened, like he didn’t want to let go. “What do you prefer to eat? Toast? Eggs? Bacon?”
“Mm, bacon.”
“I’ll run to the store and get some. You stay here and rest, okay?” He patted my butt and moved me to the side.
I wanted to protest the loss of his heat, but bacon sounded good. “You’ll cook it for me?”
“Yes, baby, I’ll cook it for you. Anything you need.”
“Mm. I like that.” I smiled into my pillow, the gesture hurting a few seconds later. “I might nap again.”
“Good. Now, I’m going to leave your phone in my room so you’re not tempted to use it. Screen time can hurt, so if you need anything, just ring this bell. Callum or Dean will get you whatever you want. I won’t be gone long, an hour max, but I don’t want you worrying.”
“You’re fretting over me.”
“Yes, I am. Now let me.” He bent down and kissed my forehead. “Be right back, baby, keep the bed warm for me.”
“Luca.” I peeked one eye open and found him staring at me with so much love my throat hitched. He had a sheet of paper in his hands and a pen behind his ear, like he wrote a list of things to get me. My heart swelled. “Did you change your mind?” I whispered, not clarifying what I meant.
