“You’re something else, Drew.” His lip lifts at one corner. “I’m first aid trained and checked you over. But we can take you to the hospital once we leave.”
Nodding, I accept that’s what I’ll have to settle with, pressing myself deeper into the bed and pulling the blanket more over my body. I’m only now aware that I have a set of sleepwear on, assuming it’s one of the girls.
“I used to get by being invisible, you know. Never said boo to a ghost. Had no problems.” I yawn, thoughts starting to jumble as I wish for sleep.
He chuckles, patting my foot over the duvet. “I highly doubt that. I bet you’ve always stood out.”
Sleep takes me, quick and painless.
This time I dream about planting vegetables whilst Maggie labors over the already established herb garden at Nightingale house. Her thick Scottish accent booms in the air for me to hurry up, bringing the tomato seeds for her to plant, but when I look down at my hands, all I’m carrying are bouquets of lilies. Fast clouds start to roll in from above, the bright light that makes the garden glow suddenly turning lifeless and grey. All around me the forest starts to wilt, everything turning black as the clouds move faster and faster towards the herb garden. Maggie continues to demand I keep going, but when I don’t move, a large frame knocks into my shoulder from behind and I drop the flowers into the dirt. Apologizing, I grab at the male gardener, but I can’t find his face. Whichever way I turn him, his face never comes into view. He has shaggy brown hair and wears a sun hat, but the more I claw at his arm for him to turn around and face me, the more confused I become, whilst Maggie continues to leer at me.
I wake up to a light sensation touching each of my fingers, my eyes focusing on curly black hair and the side of a tattooed face. Actual chatter fills the room, and Wren is focused on skipping through television channels whilst he absentmindedly kisses each one of my fingers. I make a little noise in the back of my throat which alerts him I’m awake and I’m blessed with eyes, a vibrant emerald. His shoulders loosen as he gives me a little smile.
“Cardinal the bastard, has a working television! He must get some sort of signal because a few channels are working.” Hechanges the channel a couple of times, before Detective Chief Inspector Barnaby appears on the screen. Looking at me with his arms stretched, like he’s a god, he beams at me. “This is perfect. A little home comfort for you whilst you recover.”
I roll my eyes at him but end up smiling back just as wide as he is. “I know it’s really old and lame, but I love this show so much.”
He plants another kiss on my fingertip. “Not lame if you love it. How are you feeling?”
“My head’s clearer. I don’t feel so sick anymore.”
“I managed to wake you up briefly to take some tablets, but you’ve been asleep for a while now.”
Sitting up, I find fresh water on the bedside table, so I take a sip and pat the side of the bed when I’m done. Not having to be told twice, Wren pulls back the covers, scooting in beside me and slides his arm around my back.
“What episode is this?” he asks, smirking, and I think this is some sort of a test. My eyes focus on the television at the end of the bed and I watch what’s going on before answering.
“So I only know the name of this one because it’s one of my favorites—I have a good memory. It’s called Death and the Diva. It’s about an old horror actress that’s murdered.” I wiggle my fingers at him and he playfully pretends to nip at them.
“Lame.”
“Hey, you said it wasn’t!”
Laughing, he pulls me back, wrapping his large hands around my waist and plants a kiss on the top of my head. “I’m winding you up, my love. Do you want to watch it for a little while and then we’ll sort you out a bath or food?”
I pause, looking down at my skin and picking up one of my curls to examine. It smells like shampoo and weirdly feels clean.
“After I brought you back to the hotel, Lily helped me bathe you. Then we got you tucked up here whilst Cardy cleaned your wounds.”
My cheeks flush involuntarily, but he gives me a reassuring squeeze that he made sure everything was fine.
Speaking of the devil, a light knock flutters against the wood before the room door opens and the blonde lets herself in. I’ve never seen Lil look so tired, but with her hair pulled up into a high ponytail, the stress of our stay is adamantly stamped under her eyes. She has no glow, looks thin—if that’s even possible, and is wearing an oversized t-shirt that must be a man's.
“Darling, I am so glad you are awake.” Holding a palm to her chest as she rushes to my side of the bed, Wren stiffens a little, pushing his face into my shoulder as he regards her but says nothing. Eyeing the television, she lets out a little laugh. “Of course you’d find a way to get one of your shows working.”
We share a look full of renaissance before she sits on the other side of me, the three of us settling into a comfortable silence, as I ignore any lingering pain on my skin and we watch the program. Whilst the mystery unfolds on screen, all I seem to be able to focus on is how firm Wren’s body is resting against me, his muscles tense, and I understand why being around her might not be great for him. I bet they never even discussed her throwing a party in his home and suddenly I feel a little self-conscious over their past history, one I don’t have with him. Ridiculous—I know. Maybe I need another bash to the head to get it back on straight.
I must bristle because his arm grips me a little tighter. “Are you hungry?” he whispers, eyes on me and not the television. I shake my head and try to settle back, but the idea of not knowing if anything has happened between them, makes me antsy. I can’t say it outright; Lil would just laugh and not answer even if they hadn’t, an annoying habit she has to cause trouble. I think Wren has learned his lesson of keeping the truth from me and honestly, I think it might hurt some fragile, jealous monster Ididn’t know I had inside me, if they had been together. Maybe it’s best not knowing.
“Where’s Phin?” I ask her, diverting my thoughts; he’s the puzzle piece missing here for me to really relax.
Lil waves her long fingers casually. “Oh, he’s asleep in my room. We searched the entire house for you whilst everyone was outside, and he must have been so tired because he plopped back into bed when you were found. The stress with everything and Merle—ugh, Darling, I just knew he was the wrong one for him. We all know how Phoenix can cling and rely on someone to take care of him, I think the heathen used that to get what he wanted.”
“I’m sure it wasn’t like that. He never said they were having troubles until now. Sometimes, things just fizzle out.”
“You’ve always had rose-colored glasses when it comes to love, Rob. Remember how after a month of them dating, Merle conveniently had to find a new place to live and despite having halls, he convinced my brother to rent that apartment for them? Or when he was let go from physio work, it was days after Phoenix had that meeting with our family lawyer to discuss the plan for his inheritance to start trickling in. Of course, he was let go for banging his client—we know now, but he’d really laid that on thick and he couldn’t say no to him. He paid for everything.”
I can’t help but frown, because I honestly never knew she was so observant and took notice of all this. I hadn’t, Merle had been kind-natured and lovely towards me.
