“I know, Sunshine,” Knox says as he pours a cup of water over her shoulder. It breaks my heart to see her shiver. “We can’t have you passing out on us. You can’t get too hot, okay?”
“Hate this,” she whimpers. “Hate all of it.”
“I know you do, Alley Cat,” I say from the doorway.
Her eyes are glassy when they flick toward me, her head almost lobbing over her shoulder like it’s too heavy for her to control.
“I feel gross,” she whispers.
I push off the doorframe and make my way for the two of them. I perch on the edge of the tub.
“I know,” I say again, because I don’t know what else to give her.
She closes her eyes and I shoot a look at Knox. His face is as equally worried as I feel, and I start running down plans in my head.
If this is Lia’s heat, and if she wants us to help with it, Amber will need somewhere to go. Or maybe we can take her heat elsewhere and her grandparents can switch out staying at the house until it’s all said and done.
Will she want us to help her with her heat?
I think it’ll break me if she chooses to suffer through it alone.
“Cramp,” she whimpers before she curls up in the tub.
“Don’t fight it, just let it roll through you,” Knox coos as he pours a bit of water on her hair. “We’re right here.”
“Fuck, it hurts.”
I dip my hand into the water and find her leg. I wrap my hand around her calf and squeeze a smidge, just so she knows I’m there.
“Eli,” she whispers.
“I’m right here, Alley Cat. We’ll take this one cramp at a time.”
“What did Walker say?” Knox asks.
“Walker,” she groans. “Where is he? Why isn’t he here? He hates me, doesn’t he?”
The pain in her voice is unmistakable. “He doesn’t hate you, not by a long shot. He’ll be here soon. He’s stopping by Dr. Quinn’s office to see if he’s got anything that might help you.”
My phone buzzes in my pocket just as Knox takes in a breath to respond. I hold up a finger at him before I jam my dry hand into my pocket. The text from Walker is short and sweet. I turn my screen toward Knox so he can read it as well.
Walker:Got a tea already brewed and two pills for her to take. One now, and one later this evening. Doc says the pills should take the edge off. Be there in five.
“Is he coming?” Lia whimpers out.
The sound of her whining digs under my skin. I tuck my phone back into my pocket while giving her calf another little squeeze.
“He’s five minutes away,” I say, keeping my voice low in case her senses are heightened. “He’s got a tea for you to drink, as well as some pills Dr. Quinn wants you to take. Says it should take the edge off.”
“God, I hope so,” Lia groans as she curls into herself.
Knox rolls up the sleeves of his red flannel before jamming his hands through the bubbles and into the bath. Lia turns to her side, her back facing us, and a moan of satisfaction from her lips fills the room.
“That feel better?” Knox asks.
“Harder,” she groans.
I crook an eyebrow. “Knox?”
