“Right.”
“Did the pain meds help?”
“A bit. Shite, probably shouldn't be drinking with them, huh?” She shrugs, reaching for her wine glass. “Like I care at this point.”
“Well, I do.” I squint down at the bottle, checking the label.
“It's fine,” she says, taking a swig of the wine before I can stop her.
“No more wine for you, right?” I say, taking the glass away gently but firmly.
She rolls her eyes. “No more wine. No running away. Eat your carbs. I get it. You take me away from everything, then you just like to boss me around, don't you?”
I huff under my breath because I haven’t even scratched the surface of how much I want to do to her. She thinksthisis bossy?
“Right. Here, let's get you in the other room.” I bend and lace her arm around my neck, stand, and we hobble to the living room together, her weight against my side making something possessive curl tight in my chest. “I'll do the washing up. You read or something, will you?”
“Can I look at my phone?”
“No.”
“I'd like to play a game.”
“I said no. If you want to play a game, I'll give you a tablet.”
Maybe that's a bad fucking idea. What if she finds a way to send somebody a message? But I need to give hersomething. Can't keep her in a complete void.
She picks up a thick volume with a leather cover, one I got at a gift shop in town, knowing she'd like it—some medieval romance about knights and ladies. She’s quiet while I do the washing up. I look over.
My fucking god. She's asleep, the book open on her lap, her head tilted to the side.
I dry my hands and walk over to her. She doesn’t stir as I gently take the book from her and set it aside, the ribbon marking her place.
Bending, I pick her up and carry her for the second time today, and she wakes when I lift her, her lashes fluttering.
“Shh,” I say. It soothes something in me to hold her like this, up against my chest. Protected. Safe.Mine. “Let’s get you to bed.”
“Bed?”
She melts into me… goes soft and pliant against my chest, her body molding to mine like she was made for this. Her head is tucked under my chin as if she belongs there.
Her fingers curl into my shirt, not pushing away but holding on.
“Aye,” I say, laying her on top of the bed. I pull a blanket up over her shoulder and watch as she falls fast asleep, her breathing evening out.
She’s gotten under my skin and burrowed deep. I’ve never been so vulnerable.
I bend in and tuck the blanket around her again, as if it's somehow symbolic of keeping her safe.
I can't go back now. No. I've taken steps I can't undo. Taken her away from her life, from everyone she knows. And I have to fucking find a way to make this work. I can't quite keep her here the same way forever, can I?
I shake my head, go to the shelf, and check her phone. More crap from Marcus. More from her mam too.
I want to reach out to my brother, ask for advice, and tell him everything. I shoot him a text.
Y’alright, brother?
Lorcan
