Assholes. The whole lot of them. My brother for asking me, actually begging me to do this damn check in. And Jeremiah for making it so damn hard to find him or contact him.
“You know you’re making him worry, right?” I ask, sitting back and rubbing at my sore ribs.
His eyes follow the movement, dark and full of something that I’m damn sure I don’t want to look too close at.
“Do you want something for the pain? I’ve got Tylenol or Advil?”
Shaking my head, I growl, “You know how I feel about unnecessary medications.”
He rolls his golden-hazel eyes, the green in them sparking with anger. “Yeah, I know how you feel about unnecessary medications but if something hurts they’re necessary.”
I lift my hand up and run it though my tangled hair, wincing when I jostle my wrist.
His eyes narrow in on the subtle flinch and he growls, “You hurt your wrist too?”
“No,” I mumble, moving it so that he can’t see where the hem has ridden up.
“I saw that. Give me your arm.”
“No,” I firm my jaw and ignore him, staring around at the room. It’s a huge open room with genuine wood logs and a smooth hardwood floor in oak. The golden glow of the wood is way more welcoming than its owner.
“Gimme your arm before I put you in a headlock and make you.”
“We’re not kids anymore, Jeremiah,” I huff. “You keep your damn hands to yourself.”
“Then give me your arm. I’ll give you to the count of three…one…two…” He reaches out and tugs at my arm before I’m ready and I huff angrily.
“You always were a cheater.”
“And you were always too stubborn for your own good, woman.” He holds my wrist gently and studies it quietly, his strong, calloused fingers stroking my sensitive skin and stoking a fire in my belly that I really hoped never to feel again.
At least not with him.
“Well, doctor,” I huff sardonically. “What do you think?”
“I think you sprained it and it’s swollen. I’ll get you an ice pack and then afterwards we’ll wrap it up. Give it some support.”l
“Fine. Just…leave me alone for a little bit. I’m tired.” And really hating how all my nerve ending are on fire around this man.
“I’ll get your ice pack and then Linc and I will head back out to your car to see if we can salvage any of your stuff tonight.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“Yeah it is, Mari. Yeah it fucking is.”
And with those harsh words hanging in the sudden chill of the air between us, he whistles for the dog who’s been sitting watching us quietly, his tongue lolling out.
The dog follows along behind his silent, grumpy master happily, a little skip in his step.
Both of them disappear after he tosses me an ice pack from the kitchen.
I look around me, my heart finally slowing to a normal beat and pain washing over me as I settle down on the couch cushions.
My eyes close on a hiss when I place the ice pack and then it slowly fades away as it numbs.
I wish I had an ice pack to numb my heart.
With a sigh, I let myself relax for the first time today. I told my brother this was a bad idea.
