My gaze dropped to his stomach hidden by his T-shirt. I lightly touched the place where I’d stabbed him. “How are you doing?”
He gave a lazy half shrug, trying to make light of the injury. “It’s nothing. Just a scratch. I’m a little sore, but I’ll bounce back in no time. How have things been here?”
Sliding an arm around my shoulders, Auryn tucked me in against him as he led me back to the chair where I’d been sitting. That’s when I realized how many people were staring at us, including several orderlies. Possibly worried we were going to start making out or something against the rules.
Auryn pulled up a free chair next to mine, placing it so we sat across from one another, our knees touching. He glanced over at one of the orderlies, his brow furrowing into a deep frown. They exchanged a look I didn’t understand before he swung his gaze back to mine.
“It’s been tough,” I said honestly. “I think this is where I’m supposed to be though. I don’t want to be reliant on the Oxy anymore or anything else for that matter. I think this place will help.”
“Me too. I decided that if you can do it, then so can I. I’m getting off the blow. I flushed the rest of my stash before Icame in here.” Auryn leaned forward to take my hands in his. He pressed a brief kiss to my fingertips, that little action filling me with warmth.
I couldn’t believe what I heard. “Are you serious?”
“I’ve never been more serious about anything. I want you, Ripley. I want to know what we could have together. You’re mine, and I’ll do anything to protect you.” He reached to tuck a strand of my hair behind my ear.
Leaning into his touch, I so badly wanted to believe everything he said. And I knew that there were some things he could not protect me from. “I want to know what we could have too, but you can’t always protect me, Auryn. You can’t save me. I have to do this on my own.”
His gaze dropped to our joined hands as he nodded. “Maybe we can save each other. Pull each other through. Isn’t that how this whole love thing is supposed to work?”
The rush of warmth that filled my chest quickly spread through my whole body. I wished that I could throw myself into his lap and kiss him with everything I had. Too bad that kind of thing wasn’t allowed here. My self-control was severely being tested.
“Auryn, I never got the chance to tell you that night how sorry I am for what happened,” I said, keeping my voice low. “And I never got to tell you that I love you too.”
The smile he bestowed on me was almost boyish in its innocence. Like he’d never had anyone say that before. He shoved a hand through his blonde hair, pushing a piece back from his forehead.
“It’s killing me that I can’t touch you more than this. I’m dying to kiss you. Fuck, I’m dying to be inside you.” His devious laugh made my skin prickle in the best way.
“It will be worth the wait,” I promised. “For the record, I want that too.”
Over Auryn’s shoulder, I spotted the orderly he’d been glaring at. A twenty or thirty-something man with a shaved head. He stood on the other side of the room, keeping an eye on things. I caught him staring at us a few times. A dark glower on his face. What was that all about?
“I’m never going to hear the end of this when I get out of here,” Auryn chuckled. “The guys will be busting my balls for the next decade.”
Codie had told me about the way Auryn had given his friends such a hard time for finding their person. Making all kinds of snarky, sarcastic remarks.
“From what I’ve been told, you probably deserve it,” I laughed, happy that my tears had dried up.
“Oh, I definitely deserve it.” Auryn managed to look chagrined. “Fuck, I hate it when they’re right.”
We continued to talk quietly, discussing our personal goals and plans for our future selves free of addiction. Having Auryn there with me gave me a renewed strength. Solid ground to start building from.
Our friends saw something between us long before we did. Seeing as how they’d all found their perfect match, aside from Athena, I trusted their judgment. I knew there was something special here. Something that neither Auryn or I had been looking for.
Isn’t that when it hits you though? When you least expect it.
Across the room, the woman who always spun in circles had been approached by an orderly. I wasn’t sure what he said to her but immediately she dissolved into hysterics. Screaming and shouting while slapping herself in the head.
A man in the corner playing cards by himself started whining in response. Like her outburst disturbed him on a deeplevel. Immediately several orderlies took action, most of them heading for her while a few went to console the upset man.
I watched the orderlies restrain the woman before removing her from the room. I hated to see anyone in such distress. Knowing how easy it would be to end up like that if I continued going down the path I’d been on.
“I hope she’s okay,” I whispered, holding tighter to Auryn’s hand.
Shortly after everything calmed down, we were called to the dining hall for supper. The day had gone so fast. Since Auryn and I had different issues to tackle, we may not get many opportunities to be together other than meal times.
We moved to the dining hall where Auryn insisted I eat a proper meal. “I bet you’ve barely eaten since you got here. Take more than that.”
Rolling my eyes, I grabbed one more scoop of stew at his insistence. “I’ve been eating. Somewhat. It’s been difficult with the nausea.”
