“I love your room,” I said as he sat me down on the side of the bed closest to the wall.
“Thanks.” He moved to the other side and hesitated for a moment before taking off his shirt. “I run hot,” he explained needlessly.
We both got situated underneath the covers. I let out an audible moan as soon as my head hit the pillow. “I just realized how insanely exhausted I am.”
I already felt myself drifting off as strong arms wrapped around me. My head found a spot in the curve of his neck as I floated off to sleep.
ChapterTwenty-Three
It feltlike I had only blinked, but light was already seeping into the room the next time I partially opened my eyes. Squinting, I turned over to find that Giles had once again already vacated the bed.
“I must scare him off in my sleep,” I muttered.
Then the smell hit me. Bacon. It was wafting up the stairs and through the open bedroom door.
I sat up and stretched my arms over my head before dropping them quickly and wincing. It felt like I had been in a car accident. My entire body was stiff, and when I lifted my shirt, I found dozens of bruises dotting my body.
My snowboarding career was definitely over.
I hobbled over to my crutches and awkwardly made my way to the stairs. Once there, I assessed my best course of action. Never having used crutches before, I did not feel confident in my ability to wield them properly on a staircase.
Thankfully, Giles popped his head around the banister after just a few moments of my deliberation. “I thought I heard something. What do you think you’re doing?”
“Trying to figure out how to get down these stairs without falling and winding up right back in the hospital.”
Snickering, he climbed the stairs and placed one hand on my waist before taking my crutches and leaning them against the wall. “Ready?”
“You don’t have to carry m—oof.” Mid-protest, Giles lifted me into his arms and carried me down the stairs. He dropped me off at the bench by his front door and ran back up for my crutches.
“You know, I’ve got to wear this stupid thing for like six weeks. I need to learn how to fend for myself without you transferring me everywhere.”
“I don’t mind.” He flashed me a grin, and my heart flipped.
Before I could shuffle over to the couch, there was a knock at the door.
“That’s probably Erin and Johnny. They wanted to stop by yesterday, but I told them you needed to rest.”
“You did?” My heart sputtered at his thoughtfulness.
He opened the door and immediately had to move out of the way as Erin burst through.
“Oh my god, Mattie. I’m so so so so sorry.” She flung her arms around my neck, and I patted her back. “I should have never left you alone. I thought you were right behind me. And then when we couldn’t find you and your phone was going straight to voicemail? It was so scary. Can you ever forgive me?”
I waved her off. “There’s nothing to apologize for. It’s not your fault.”
“You could have kept a better eye on her,” Giles's gruff voice chimed in.
“We know,” Johnny said, also stepping over to give me a quick hug. “And we’re sorry.” Was it just me, or was he talking to mostly Giles?
“You know you could have always gone with us,” I teased Giles. “Maybeyoushould have kept a better eye on me.”
Instead of smiling, he looked at me grimly. “You’re right. I should have.”
I rolled my eyes. “Alright, everyone. Stop feeling guilty right now. It’s no one’s fault, and I’m fine. Are you both staying for breakfast?”
Erin nodded and thrust a plate she was holding underneath my nose. “And I brought cookies.”
I glanced down at them. They had frosted frowny faces and “I’m Sorry” written on them.
