I grind my back teeth together as my jaw tightens. I probably should go in search of her and tell her exactly that, but I don’t. What’s the point? Maybe it’s better that she realises I’m a monster sooner rather than later.
Footsteps approach before I can sink any deeper into despair, and I look up just as Emily re-enters the room. There’s a small first aid kit tucked against her side like she never questioned coming back.
Her eyes meet mine for a split second as she crosses the room without hesitation. My gaze follows her automatically, helplessly, until she stops beside me and sets the kit on the table.
She doesn’t take her old seat across from me. Instead, she pulls out the chair next to mine and sits close enough that I can feel the warmth of her shoulder even though we’re not touching.
She draws in a quiet breath. “Give me your hand.”
I blink at her. “Em?—”
“I’m not asking what you did,” she says, her voice soft but immovable. “I’m asking you to let me clean your wounds.”
My pulse kicks hard against my ribs.
Slowly, reluctantly, I unclench the fist I didn’t know I’d been making, and set my bruised, battered hand on the table between us.
She reaches for it, carefully, like she’s afraid she’ll hurt me, not like she’s afraid of me. And the tight, leaden weight in my stomach shifts, cracking just enough to let something else through. Something I don’t have a name for. Something that, if I’m honest, scares the fucking shit out of me.
Chapter 24
Emily
“D, ouchie,” Peach says with a pouty lip as she climbs on his lap and leans in to place a soft kiss on his hand. “I kiss better.”
It’s a move her uncle has obviously done to her in the past, and my flattened palm instantly rises to rest on my chest. I swear, this kid is the cutest.
Dominic’s gaze slides from my face to my hand, and he rolls his eyes, unimpressed with my swooning.
“Can I take these bandages off now?” he grumbles. “I feel stupid.”
“No,” I reply, taking a bite of my French toast.
He cocks an eyebrow, but I see the scowl on his face soften.
“Some of those cuts were deep enough that they probably require stitches, so the way I see it is you have two choices.”
He rears back slightly, but I see a slight grin curve his lips. “Do I now? And what two choices do I have?”
“Either you let me tend to your wounds, or we go to the hospital and have the doctors do it.”
Dominic huffs out a laugh—more air than sound—as ifhe can’t quite decide whether to be annoyed or amused. Peach stays perched on his thigh like a little queen, still cradling his injured hand between her tiny fingers.
“I’m fine, kid,” he grumbles, leaning down to place a soft kiss on her hair, and my insides turn to mush.
His explanation seems to be enough because she reaches over and picks up a piece of bacon from his plate, bringing it to her mouth.
“What are your plans today?” I ask him.
He lifts one shoulder. “Nothing yet, why?”
“I was thinking about going out for a while and wanted to make sure you’d be here for Peach.”
His eyes narrow. “Where are you planning on going?”
“Job hunting.”
“You have a job … two actually.”
