The relief is so great I burst into tears.
“Soph!” He drops to his knees beside me. “Shit. What happened? Are you okay?” His gaze skims across my body, then comes back to my face. “Shit. Of course you’re not okay. Where are you hurt? I’m sorry. I didn’t know you were there.Shit.”
Relief quickly shifts to embarrassment as the reality of what happened sinks in.
I heard a noise, a veryunthreateningnoise, for that matter. And rather than calmly investigating it, like I normally would, I wound myself up into a complete panic. Then I raced across the bedroom instead of walking like a normal person, collided with the freaking door, knocked myself on my ass, and to top it all off, I started crying right in front of Nico. Who is the lastperson I want to see my tears.
“I’m fine,” I mutter. “I just—” Pushing myself up one-armed, I curse the stupid sling trapping my other one. “It’s nothing.”
“Sofia.” Nico puts his hand on my back, helping me to a seated position. And despite my embarrassment—no, humiliation is more apt—I can’t help noticing the tingles of electricity his touch leaves behind. “It’s not nothing. I hit you with the damn door. And you’re hurt.”
“I’m not.” I swipe at my cheeks. “I’m fine. I just…”
Thought he was an intruder? Was on the verge of a panic attack? Ricocheted off the stupid bedroom door after flinging myself at it? Burst into tears over nothing?
“Sofia.” His tone is stern. “You’re not fine.” He grasps my elbow, which is already reddening from its collision with the floor. “You’re going to have a bruise. And you hit your head. After a concussion… Shit.”
I scramble to stand, but I sway halfway up.
And Nico, who decidesnow’sthe perfect time to be a gentleman, quickly wraps his arm around my waist and tugs me to his side.
Fireworks of sensation explode through my body.
“Come on,” he says as he starts leading me to the bed. “You need to lie down. I’ll call the doctor. Get him over here to take a look at you.”
“No.” I jerk my traitorous body away from him. “I’m fine. I don’t need a doctor.”
“You fell,” he replies. “You hit your head. Traumatic brain injuries are nothing to mess with. Especially given your—” He stops. Frowns.
Right. My amnesia. Another cherry on top of the craptastic sundae of my life.
“It was just a little bump,” I insist. Touching the back of my head, I find a small sore spot just below the one I got in the alley. “I’m sure it’s fine.”
“We don’t know that.” Nico grasps my arm and gently but firmly maneuvers me onto the bed. Once I’m seated, he perches on the edge of the mattress and tips my head forward. His fingers comb through my hair, searching out the new bruise.
And, crap.
It feels too good.
I’m reminded of all the times we’d watch movies together and I’d fall asleep on his shoulder, coming awake to the soothing sensation of his fingers running through my hair.You have such beautiful hair,he used to tell me.Like Snow White’s. But even prettier.
My nose prickles again.
I don’t want to remember those times.
I don’t want to remember how good things were.
And Ireallydon’t want to remember how easy it was to fall in love with him.
He broke your heart,the voice of logic reminds.He thought you were a thief. You might have been in love with him, but he didn’t love you.
“Maybe I should call Knight,” Nico says. “He’s a trained medic. If you’re adamant about not seeing a doctor, he could take a look. See if there’s anything concerning.”
I pull my head away from his tempting fingers. “There’s nothing. It was just a bump. I’m fine.” Dryly, I add, “If I start hallucinating, I’ll let you know.”
Confusion creases his brow. “Hallucinations? Have you been hallucinating?”
“No. The doctor just said—nevermind. It’s not important. I’m fine. Embarrassed, but fine.”
