Page 84 of UNAwere

‘Hello, dear,’ she says.

‘Hi, can I get a room for the night, please?’

I realise I forgot to get Jude’s wallet and swear. I quickly open my phone and check how much I have in my bank.

‘What’s the price?’ I quickly ask.

‘Are you alright, dear? I can smell…?’ She sees the blood on my hands, and I hold my breath.

I’m so used to being around humans, I forgot Weres have a keen sense of smell.

‘Period,’ I say happily. ‘That’s why I need a room. I’m on my period, and I’m bleeding everywhere and, ugh, it’s just… Can us women ever get a break?’

Recognition dawns on her face. She steps back a little, and her smile is forced.

‘Oh…’

‘Sorry. You probably don’t get them anymore…’ I realise what I’ve just said when her face scrunches. ‘Oh! Um, no, that’s not what—I wasn’t calling you old. Just… Y’know, you’ve had a lifetime of periods. You’d understand more than anyone, and I truly respect… Oh, jeepers…‘ She sniffs, tilting her chin up. ‘Um, I won’t touch you or anything in here.’ I wave my phone at her. ‘Happy to pay extra for cleaning.’

‘Good,’ she says curtly, putting on her glasses and looking at her computer. ‘There’s a room. The bed is a double. No breakfast is provided.’

‘That’s fine, thank you!’

I pay, collect the key, and hurry out. Jude’s still in the car when I reach it, unconscious. I sigh and bend down, throwing his arm over my shoulder and dragging him out. He’s heavy. And big. I half-consider slapping a “wide load” sticker on the back of his shirt. We make it to the door, and I wedge him between the wall and myself as I unlock it. It swings open, and I take a deep breath and heft him through the threshold.

The bed is the first thing I see, and I throw him onto it. He dwarfs it as soon as he lands, and I quickly hurry out, collect our bags from the car, and lock the door behind me.

I’m robotic as I organise things: water, a towel, his first-aid kit. I wash my hands, and I tie up my hair, seeing the blood all over my dress and face. I ignore my reflection and head back out. He’s still on the bed, and a dark patch has formed at his side.

‘Shit.’

‘Three… dollars…’

I grin, relieved to hear his voice. I rush to him and lower my head until it’s hovering over his. His eyes are open halfway, and he smiles when he sees me.

‘Beautiful girl.’

‘You’re awfully complimentary when you’re hurt,’ I murmur.

He reaches up and brushes a bloody hand across my cheek.

‘Did you make it?’ he asks, his thumb rubbing the groove under my bottom lip.

‘Yeah. We’re at the motel.’

‘You’re so good, sweetheart.’

Heat rises to my cheeks at the sound of pride in his voice, and I let out a snort-laugh. ‘Hardly.’

I stand back, and he eases himself up, groaning as he clutches the wound in his stomach. He moves backwards until his spine is against the headboard and he’s propped upright. His eyes land on me again and then on the supplies I’ve gathered.

‘Clean it first,’ he murmurs. ‘Should be saline in the first-aid kit. Use that and some sterile gauze.’

‘Gloves?’ I ask.

‘In the kit…’ He smiles softly at me, eyes heavy-lidded.

I find them and put them on, hands shaking as the latex snaps against my skin. And then I let out a breath and get to work. I lift his shirt to check the wound on the side of his stomach. It’s thin but deep. And it dribbles fresh blood as I begin cleaning it. Jude keeps his eyes on my face as I go, and my cheeks are burning under his intent perusal.