Coyote held his hands out to me. I stared at them before shaking my head slightly, still unable to look him in the eyes.
He sighed. “Arms?”
“Left. Can’t move it.”
“Can I see it?”
I nodded.
His fingers were warm as they slowly peeled the fabric of my shirt away from my chest to see the joint.
He sucked in a breath. “Dislocated. I can pop it back in, but we’ll have to take you to Bull to make sure it’s set right.”
“No, just set it and take me home.”
“Nuh-uh. You want my help, then you go to Bull.”
“Please.” I was crying again. I hated myself. I hated him for seeing it. “I just want to go home. I don’t want anyone else to know, Coyote.”
“Look at me.” His voice was firm, but not unkind. “Harper.”
I turned my head to glare at him.
“There is nothing,nothing, that you have to be ashamed of.”
He’s lying.
Coyote’s eyes softened, almost glassing over. “It’s not your fault.”
“You don’t—”
“It isn’t. Trust me. I understand more than you think… and I didn’t believe it either until someone else told me. But it just isn’t.”
His eyes told me more than I’m sure his mouth ever would. I looked away again.
“I’m going to help you sit forward now, okay?”
He moved to the side of me, and my eyes found Tristan again. Locked onto him as Coyote’s arms slowly eased under my legs and back, moving me forward enough to do what he needed to do.
“It’ll hurt worse for a second—”
“Just do it!” I snapped.
“Alright, alright. Keep breathing. Don’t pass out.”
The moment his hands were on my arm, I was groaning in pain, but he didn’t stop and I didn’t want him to. Not even when the steady force he applied triggered the worst physical pain I’d ever experienced. I cried out, then felt a pop in my shoulder, the unbearable pain gone in an instant, immediate relief replacing it.
“Fuck.”
“Yeah, it’s a bitch.” Coyote huffed as he pulled away. I groaned as I pulled the limb into my side, clutching it like it would fall out of place if I let it go.
Warmth spread over my shoulders and back as the fabric of Coyote’s jacket covered me.
“I’m gonna get you up now.”
More pain throbbed in my hip as he set me on my feet, but I wouldnotlet him carry me to the car. I’d been vulnerable enough in front of him.
“I’ll get the door. The car probably has heat or something you can put on.”
