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Mila surprises me by face planting into my chest and wrapping her arms around my waist. After a little while of hugging, she lifts her face to me and whispers, “You being here for me means everything. I’ll never forget it, Jase.”
“Good.” Playfully, I raise an eyebrow and grin at her. “Chances are good I’ll screw up again, and I’ll need you to remember I’m not just another asshole.”
She shakes her head, and for a moment, warmth seeps back into her eyes. “You can never be just another asshole.”
Moving my arm around her shoulders, I repeat my question from earlier, “Your room or mine?”
This time Mila doesn’t hesitate to answer, “Yours for now.”Chapter 16MILAI wake up to the smell of pizza hanging in the air and the soft tapping on a keyboard. I pull back from where my face is squished against Jase’s hip.
My movement makes Jase stop typing, and he quickly sets his laptop on the side of the bed before he turns to me with a grin on his face. “You slept for five hours.”
Wow, it’s afternoon already?
He looks so damn happy about the sleep I got, it makes a burst of warmth seep through my heart.
“Did you get some rest?” I ask, my gaze darting between the laptop and the half-empty pizza box.
At least he ate. That’s good.
“I’ll sleep later. I wanted to get some work done first.” Jase begins to reach for the pizza box. “Are you hungry? I’ll go warm a couple of slices for you.”
“Thanks,” I answer. I move gingerly into a sitting position. “I’m going to shower first.” I shift off Jase’s bed and begin to walk to the door, then pause to add, “Afterward, I’m going to catch up on some work. I’ll see you later.”
Without looking at Jase, I slip out of his room and head to my own. Once I’m inside, I shut the door behind me and take a moment to just breathe before I turn around to glance around my room.
Everything feels different… like none of the personal belongings are mine.
There’s a tap on my door, then Jase comes in and places my hospital bag at the foot of my bed. He walks to me, and lifting his hand behind my neck, he presses a kiss to my forehead before he leaves again.
Wanting to keep my mind busy so it won’t dwell on the dark memories, I empty the hospital bag into the laundry basket. I grab a clean pair of sweatpants and a t-shirt from my closet, along with underwear, and turning, my eyes land on the purse on my bed.
One of the girls must’ve brought it home from the club. I walk closer and opening the purse, I take my phone from it. The battery’s died, and I plug the device in to charge, then walk into the bathroom.
I let the water run in the shower while I brush my teeth and strip out of my clothes. Everything feels automatic until my gaze lands on my reflection in the mirror. All the bruises have faded to a yellowish-green, and most of the swelling is gone.
A memory stirs in the back of my mind, and I shake my head, suppressing it.
Focusing on the present, I step under the spray of warm water and wash my hair. It’s a struggle only using my right hand because I still can’t lift my left arm too high.
I’m going back to classes on Monday, and I hope the bruises will fade even more before the weekend is over, so I can cover any evidence of the attack with makeup.
When I wash my body, I don’t look at myself, not wanting to see the ugly bite marks and bruising on my ribs.
I keep my eyes trained on the tiled wall until I’m finished rinsing off. Unable to lift my arms high enough to wrap my wet hair in a towel, I pat it dry as best I can, then get dressed.
Once I’m covered, I walk out of the bathroom but come to a halt when I see Jade sitting on my bed.
“Oh… hey.”
Jade shoots up, and her eyes first scan over me before she says, “You washed your hair. Want me to help you dry it?”
I nod, not wanting to alienate myself any further from my family and friends. No matter how hard it is, I have to get back to how things were.
I grab my phone and charger and go to plug it in at my dressing table so I can check my messages while Jade dries my hair.
I sit down on the little stool, and instead of looking at myself in the mirror, I watch as Jade rubs a towel through my hair. She keeps shooting me smiles, and not wanting my cousin being weird around me, I ask, “Can we pretend it never happened?”
