“I’ve been better,” I reluctantly admit.
His lips curve up at the edges into a ghost of a smile, lined with sorrow and a touch of pity. “Yeah, I’ll bet. I’m sure this isn’t how you wanted to spend your evening.”
I shrug. “I’m sure it’s not how you wanted to spend yours.”
“I wish this hadn’t happened to you, but there’s nowhere I’d rather be than by your side, helping you through it as best as I can,” Rook tells me earnestly. If I weren’t so numb, his sincere want to be there for me would make my heart mushy.
“We’re all here for you, wild girl,” Hal agrees. “But I know I’d feel safer if we could get you back to our territory. Do you feel well enough to move so we can get you cleaned up and dressed? It’s okay if you need longer, though.”
I appreciate him not pushing or pressuring me. I’m sure he’d rather be literally anywhere than here with a dead body and a girl barely hanging on, but he doesn’t act like it. He behaves as if he could kneel here all night.
But I’d like nothing more than to wash Andrew and his blood off me. I can smell the coppery tang of blood all around me, and I can feel it drying and sticking on my skin.
Struggling to my knees, I shakily make my way to my feet. I manage to take a step before my legs collapse under me, the adrenaline that powered my shift and partial healing completely absent now.
Hal catches me before I hit the ground, his strong arms wrapping around me like a lifeline. In one smooth movement, he lifts me into his arms, bridal style. He somehow manages to keep me covered in my now-ruined blanket the whole time.
Holding me like he’s afraid the wrong movement will severely injure me, Hal carefully makes his way into my bedroom. My raging headache is thankful for his consideration as even the small amount I’m jostled makes me feel like I’m going to throw up.
I don’t really have the energy to question how Hal knows exactly where my bathroom is. I just chalk it up to it being a small apartment.
He pauses outside of the bathroom door, and Rook steps up next to him. They have a silent conversation before Rook says, “Are you okay with me getting into the shower with you, dove? I’m really worried about you slipping and hurting yourself without someone there. If you have a bathing suit, you can wear that, and I’ll keep my boxers on.”
I’m nodding before he’s even finished. Yeah, it’ll be weird showering with him. But I’m desperate to get clean and aware enough to know I can’t do it myself right now. “Yeah. I have a suit in my dresser.”
I point over at the cheap white dresser next to my closet.
I can’t help but feel embarrassed about the inexpensive and secondhand bed, dresser, and nightstands in my hardly decorated bedroom. It was all I could afford when I moved out,but I know the guys are used to the finer things in life. I was, too, at one point.
But I’d take my well-worn but well-loved furniture, mass-produced art, and bargain-bin comforter any day over the expensive furnishings I grew up with. They may have been higher quality, but the strings they came with were never worth it.
Rook walks over to my dresser. “I’ll get it for you, dove. Which drawer?”
“Third drawer from the top.”
I realize too late that that’s also my underwear drawer, stocked with all sorts of sexy, lacy lingerie, courtesy of Charlie. I never wear it and just shoved it in a random drawer I rarely open.
Rook’s eyes go wide when he opens the drawer, and his cheeks turn ever so slightly pink. He rummages through my clothes quickly until he pulls out a plain forest-green bikini. Holding it up for my approval, Rook shoves the drawer shut when I nod.
“Do you need help getting into it?” Hal asks gently as Rook brings over the suit. “Whichever one of us you feel the most comfortable with can help you change.”
My cheeks heat from embarrassment at his offer. I already hate Hal having to carry me, but I draw the line at either of them having to dress me. “I can do it myself. Thank you, though.”
Hal looks skeptical but doesn’t argue with me. He carefully lowers me to the ground, keeping his hands out until I’m as steady as I’m going to get right now.
Like perfect gentlemen, the two of them turn their backs as I quickly step into the swimsuit bottoms and tie the top. “I’m covered. You guys can turn around now.”
They turn around, and both of them rove their gazes over my mostly naked body, like they can’t help themselves. I seeappreciation and heat in their eyes before they jerk their gazes away.
Hal studiously inspects the carpet, like the worn brown floor covering is the most interesting thing he’s ever seen.
Rook keeps his eyes glued to my face as he offers me his hand. I reluctantly take it, not wanting to dirty him with the drying blood caked on my hands. He leads me to the bathroom, and he hardly glances at the cracked tile floor, the peeling paint, or the falling-apart cabinets.
When we walk into the cramped space, Rook gently picks me up by my waist and deposits me onto the fake stone vanity top.
When I give him a questioning look, he shrugs. “You’re going to have to stand for the shower, so I don’t want you to wear yourself out while I get the water ready.”
He then pushes the shower curtain aside and turns on my shower.
