Page 5

“It’s nice to meet you,” I say, trying to step closer but Simon stays in my way, keeping his wings spread so I can’t help him grab the arm chair. “I’m Thane. This is my sister, Tess.”

“Awesomesauce. I don’t need help. I totally got this,” he says, picking the armchair back up, trying to wiggle his way into the door. “I know it’s dumb to bring an armchair into a dorm but I don’t care. I always love reading in this thing and figured a little comfort is something we all need when we’re out on our own for the first time, right? It was my grandpa’s and then I took it home with me after he passed away. My mom was so mad but oh well,” he says, adding a fart noise with his mouth at the end.

“Really,” I say again, stepping closer. “Let me help you, Simon.”

“I got it! I got it!” he says, pulling the armchair into the room. My roommate is much shorter than me with wings on his back. I think it’s the wings making it so he can’t quite fit through the door. Just as he’s making his way over the threshold, he seems to stumble and fall.

I wince as his right wing slams into the doorframe. I hear a sickening popping noise before he cries out in pain.

“Oh fuck. Oh shit. Balls. This is bad. Ouch, ouch, ouch!”

I look over at my sister with wide eyes and she’s looking back at me. What the fuck just happened?

“Is it your wing?”

“Yeah,” he says through gritted teeth. “Think I just dislocated it. Fuck.”

“Okay,” Tess says, letting out breath. “I’m going to pull the armchair into the room. Then I’m going to go return the moving van to the depot here. Thane, I want you to help Simon to the medical center.”

“It’s not that big of a deal,” Simon starts to say but winces. “I can make my way there all by myself.”

“I don’t care if you can or not,” Tess says, crossing her arms over her chest. It makes her arms look fucking huge and intimidating. “Thane is taking you.”

“Yes, Mommy. I mean! Sorry! Yes! I’ll let him take me! Whatever you say!”

Tess rolls her eyes and moves out of the dorm, waving for us to follow behind. I watch as she pushes the chair into place before closing and locking the door behind her. Simon makes a sad noise as we move out of the dorms and through campus towards the medical center.

“Your sister sure is something.”

I snort, shaking my head. “Don’t even think about it.”

“I would never! The thought didn’t even cross my mind! She’s just very umm…” Simon’s voice trails off. “Anyway! I’m so sorry you’re having to take care of me like this. What a shit introduction.”

“It’s fine,” I tell him right away. “It certainly made today interesting at the very least.”

“That’s a great way of looking at things,” Simon says with a smile that quickly turns into a grimace.

The medical center is near the athletic department of campus which makes sense since most injuries are probably sports related. I open the door for Simon, letting him walk inside first. He walks to the counter, greeting the guy working here.

I’m not exactly sure what I’m supposed to do now. I’ve brought Simon here. Do I leave and tell him to meet me back at the dorm? Do I wait for him? Does he need me to hold his hand while the doctor does his thing?

By the monster gods, I feel so awkward. I don’t know what I’m supposed to be doing with my hands! I quickly shove them into my pockets, rocking on my heels.

Just before I turn and leave, Simon looks back at me. His eyes are wide and worried. I guess there’s my answer of what I should be doing. My instincts kick in, the urge to take care of someone so overwhelming I can’t do anything to fight it. That look reminds me too much of the twins when they’re worried, and all those instincts to ‘help, protect, take care of’ rise up inside of me.

I step up to the desk and finally get a look at the doctor working here.

My breath is stolen from my lungs. I’ve never dated before. Never really had crushes or flings. I’ve never really been interested in that sort of thing, too focused on taking care of the twins, taking care of Tess, trying to get my parents to stop being so awful. I’ve shouldered so much that I didn’t have space inside myself for anything but the bare minimum.

All of that flies right out the window when I see this doctor. He’s so handsome it makes me want to drop down to my knees and beg him to give me some of his attention.

He’s wearing green scrubs that fit him just right. Scrubs should not be so flattering but somehow, on him, they make him so fucking hot. It doesn’t even make sense!

His eyes are an icy gray color, his hair is cropped short, peppered with white and gray and black. He’s got a beard over his jaw that’s also salt and peppered. He looks older, distinguished, handsome.

I think I’m developing a crush at first sight which is a first for me. Tess can never hear about this or she’ll tease me mercilessly. She’s always on my case about dating, but no one until this very moment has ever sparked any sort of interest in me.

My ears are ringing but eventually, I seem to tune back in to the conversation at hand. Simon is explaining that his wing is dislocated.