Hazel moved from the couch, coming toward us now. “I can stitch him.”
“No, I have it,” Gabriella said, starting to pull my shirt off. “Come on, let me see everything. I need better lighting.”
Hazel looked frozen as Gabriella started to pull me down the hallway and to our bedroom. “Take your shirt off.”
I would have laughed at her command if she hadn’t been looking at me with such horror and worry. She headed into the bathroom, and I pulled my shirt off. I looked down, not realizing I had another gash on the left side of my hip.
“Oh, but I’m not hurt,” she barked, giving me an angry look now. “You liar. You’re fucking covered in cuts.”
“I didn’t realize I had them. I don’t feel them.”
She pushed me onto the bed and bent down, looking at my wounds. She reached her fingers up, running them over my gash. I winced, and she frowned. “Sorry, I was just checking to see how deep they were.”
She pulled a rag up and applied pressure to my wound. She grabbed some thread and started to stitch my wounds closed. I watched as she worked, her fingers moving slowly, her eyes never leaving my body.
“You’re good at this.”
She looked up at me, her eyes locking on mine. She blushed. “Thanks.”
I hardly felt anything as she worked, but I knew I had a high pain tolerance. She leaned back after a few minutes and nodded, satisfied. “You should be good now.”
“Thanks,” I sighed, feeling my muscles were starting to tighten up. I knew I was going to be sore tomorrow.
“I should sleep on the couch so you have the space you need and I don’t accidentally hit you.”
I frowned. “You don’t need to do that.”
“You’re hurt,” she explained, waving her hand at me. “And the last thing I want is to accidentally bump you and make it worse.”
I reached out, swiping my arm around her waist and tugging her toward me. She landed on my lap, her eyes widened as I tugged her closer. “And I don’t care. I’ve enjoyed having you in my bed.”
She blushed again, this time, her entire face growing red. “I’d be lying if I said I didn’t enjoy the warmth you give off.”
I tugged us back, falling into the pillows. I moved the sheets, pulling them tightly over us. She curled closer to me, her head resting against my chest. I inhaled her scent and couldn’t help but smile.
“Can I ask you something?” she asked, her voice coming out in a whisper.
“Of course.” I stroked her hair, listening to her breathing.
“Have you noticed anything off with Lucia?”
I paused. “Like what?”
“Well, Hazel said she had jewelry missing. I’m pretty sure she was trying to use my computer the other night. My library card was missing from my wallet. Just…odd things.”
My eyebrows went up. “Really?”
“I mean, I could be wrong, but I just wondered if it was just us or if you’ve noticed anything. Or if you’ve seen anything that seemed off.”
I shook my head. “I haven’t, but I’m not how or around her as much as you guys are.”
“I could be just worrying about nothing.” She placed her head against my chest again with a soft sigh.
I kissed the top of her head, wondering if there was anything I had missed. I wasn’t exactly following her around the house trying to find things. I should at least try to pay a little more attention moving forward.
I woke up first the next morning and found Lucia sitting in the living room. She was flipping through a book, eating some Pop-Tarts. She looked comfortable and hardly noticed when I walked in.
“Morning, Lucia.”
