“Please, let me at least clean it up so you don’t get an infection. I’ve seen your hands after a day's work, and they are filthy. Who knows what type of diseases those horses carry?"
He rolls his eyes, hating me fussing over him, but his shoulders sink in defeat. I’m not sure Grayson is used to people taking care of him. He reaches under the sink, pulling out a white plastic box.
I rip it from his hands, and he scoffs. “I can do it,” he assures me.
I open the box, shuffling through the medical supplies inside, which, if you’re asking me, are pretty limited. This thing looks picked clean. It makes me wonder how often he’s having to patch himself back together. I don’t like the idea of it, and my anxiety spikes.
“No need,” I tell him dismissively. “Wash your hand offunder the water,” I instruct him, picking out the items I’ll need to clean and bandage him up with.
“So bossy,” he teases, but he does as he’s told like a good boy. I secretly smile behind his back, loving telling him what to do.
I lay the supplies on the counter. “Alright, hand it over.” I hold my palm up, waiting for him. He listens, placing the back of his hand against my palm. As soon as our skin touches, it’s like fireworks going off across my skin.
I push down my feelings, gripping his wrist to hold him still. I don’t give him a second to prepare. “This is going to hurt,” I rush out before pulling the hydrogen peroxide from behind my back and dumping it on his cut. He hisses through the pain but otherwise keeps his mouth shut.
Damn it. I at least wanted to get a rise out of him as payback for being a shithead tonight. I debate pouring a second round on him just to cause a little more pain, but, sadly, I’m not that heartless.
I grab the mini ointment packet next, squeezing some onto the swab and gently rubbing it over his cut, placing a Band-Aid over it when I’m finished. “Should heal up nicely,” I tell him, dropping his hand to clean up the mess.
He chuckles at that. “Oh, are you a doctor now?”
“I am!” Nova screams from the dining room, a pink plastic stethoscope hanging from her neck. The little happy fixer upper. You couldn't ask for a cuter, more compassionate little girl.
“I’m whatever I need to be at the time,” I reply, dropping the used supplies in the trash. You learn to be a lot of things when you don’t have someone to rely on at a young age.
Grayson grips my wrist, halting me. “Thank you,” he says, staring at me so deeply, I swear, he can see my soul.
I gulp, and he flexes his fingers around my wrist. “It’s no biggie, really. I owed you for dinner anyway.”
“You don’t owe me for a goddamn thing, Maisie,” he whispers so Nova won’t hear.
This push and pull is really making me feel mental at thispoint. I’m starting to feel like I’m imagining these different sides of Grayson. He wouldn’t even look at me all night, and now, all he seems to be able to do is stare me down.
I give him a small nod, pulling my wrist from him to finish up with the dishes. I can’t do this right now with him. It’s too much.
Grayson tries to take over for me when I turn my back, and I have to shove him away. “You can’t get your bandage wet. What are you thinking?”
“You are insufferable, woman,” he says under his breath.
I ignore him, cleaning up the last of the dishes. Just when I put the last one away, Nova latches herself to my leg.
“Can we watch a movie? Please!” She shoots both of us puppy dog eyes. I don’t know how Laine ever tells her no with those weapons.
Grayson rubs the back of his neck again, looking over to me. He seems to do that a lot when he’s anxious. “You think you can stay up this time?” She nods aggressively. “It’s up to Maisie.”
Her big pleading eyes find me again. “Please!”
Fuck Grayson and his dang mood swings and adorable little niece. Do I want to stay? I don’t have anything better to do on one hand. Clearly, writing isn’t in the cards tonight. But I know Grayson’s only saying yes for Nova’s sake, and, honestly, he isn’t the most exciting person to be around right now.
You know what? Fuck him. Now I want to stay just in spite of him. Plus, Nova is pretty fun to hang out with.
I boop her button nose with my finger. “How could I ever say no to that face?” I coo.
“Yay!” she screams, detaching herself from me to grab her unicorn.
I follow closely behind her, choosing to sit on the smaller half of the couch so I don’t have to sit by Grayson. Of course, Nova plops her unicorn next to her but laying down, so it takes up the entire larger half of the couch, leaving no extra room.
Grayson tries to shove it over, but Nova throws her arm overit. “No! Mr. Sparkles Sugarplum Pinky Glitter Bum is sleeping. You can’t move him.”
