“I’d like that.”
Somehow, Matt and I went from fake dating to exchanging I love you’s and meeting the parents in under seventy-two hours.
Three days ago, I treated patients and rocked my niece to sleep.
Three days ago, I told Matt to go home because I couldn’t handle the emotions that seemed to flare up every time I watched him do something domestic to help my brother.
Three days ago, my biggest physical issue was lack of sleep.
Now I was a disgusting, lovesick puppy with scars all over her body who’d have to worry about explaining them to curious strangers and my nieces and nephews when they were old enough to ask with filterless curiosity.
“Hey, are you okay?”
I mentally slapped myself. Feeling sorry for myself would help no one.
Least of all me.
I remembered something one of my instructors had said when we were training for field medicine, when I asked about making sure we used clean bandages to dress wounds. “Use what you have. We can heal an infection but we can’t heal death.”
Simple. Straight. Accurate.
The logic applied to my situation. I could explain the scars however I wanted.I’m just happy I’m alive to explain them.
“I’m okay. This is all… it’s a lot, you know?”
“I do. You want to talk about it?”
I did, but not now.
“Maybe later.”
“Okay.”
Despite all the gratitude for my aliveness, and telling myself I was okay with the scars, I still freaked out when a knock sounded on my door.
“I look awful,” I whispered when my bandaged wrist moved through my line of sight as I brought my hand to my gross hair.
“You’re beautiful, Red.”
My dad stuck his head in the door. “Matt, Shane’s here.”
“Thanks. Give me a second.”
Dad closed the door.
“Madi, if you want to wait to meet him—”
Once again, Matt saw what I needed before I said a word.
“Can I have a few minutes? Maybe have my mom help me wash my hair or something?”
“Sure. Tell you what, we’ll come back after dinner.”
“Thank you. Now go see Shane.”
Chapter 50
Matt
