Page 59 of Perfect Chaos

“I still don’t understand why you would risk getting killed for us.” Atlas shakes his head in disbelief.

“That's simple, I love you both more than I love myself.”

“Wait, you love me?” My voice wavers slightly.

“How could I not?” She says it with conviction, not showing a hint of doubt in her words.

My heart swells in my chest. How can this beautiful person love someone like me? I lean over the bed, careful not to hurt her as I crash my lips to hers. The kiss breathes life into me, gluing together parts of me I didn’t even know were broken. I pull back just far enough to whisper against her lips. “I love you, too.”

I finally break the kiss completely before standing from the bed to retrieve the chair Atlas kicked. Atlas kisses her as soon as I vacate the spot. I know this is hard for Atlas too, given everything they have already been through. I place the chair back where it belongs and take a seat, Atlas ending his kiss to her at the same time. He runs his fingers through his hair, trying to tame the wild strands this time.

“Let's all try to get some sleep.” He sounds exhausted.

Maizyn nods her head while I grunt in response. If we get to take Maizyn home tomorrow, we are going to need all the sleep we can get.

Chapter Twenty-Seven

Maizyn

Morning comes too fast and not fast enough. I don't think any of us got any decent amount of sleep. I couldn't get comfortable all night. Anytime I shifted, the boys woke up to see if I needed anything. I'm just glad to be going home. We are just waiting on my discharge papers at this point.

I'm not sure who was more anxious. You would think because I was the one who was shot, it would be me, but Atlas and Gavin have been on edge all morning.

The nurse knocks on the door, pulling me from my thoughts. “I have the discharge papers for you. Let me just grab a wheelchair.”

“I don't need a wheelchair.” I seethe. I know it’s not this lady’s fault that I’m here but I can’t help it.

“Ma'am, it's a safety precaution because you just had surgery.”

“I can walk just fine.”

“But-” The nurse tries to reason with me, but Atlas cuts her off.

“I'll carry her out; it's fine.”

“You are not carrying me out of here.” I shoot daggers at the side of his head and the fucker has the audacity to wink at me.

“Really? The way I see it, one of us carries you, or you get wheeled out in a wheelchair. Which option do you prefer?”

I pause for a moment, weighing the options. I don't like either one, but I'd rather pick the option that makes me seem less helpless. “I'll take the wheelchair, but don't you dare try to push me in it.”

“See, that wasn’t that hard,” Atlas says with a laugh, knowing he got his way. He talked me into a trap just so I would pick the stupid chair.

“Whatever.” I roll my eyes automatically.

The nurse drops the papers on the table by the door. “I will leave you to get dressed; hit the buzzer whenever you are ready to go.”

“Do you have to be so difficult, Little Tornado? I will let the eye roll slide this time, but any other ones will be kept in mind for once you're better. We are all just trying to help you.” Gavin's soft voice only further irritates me.

“I don't need to be babied, Gavin." I hiss the words under my breath.

“The people you love taking care of you when you need it is not babying you.”

I look away, shutting the conversation down. I know they love me. I can't always help the way I react to something. I learned early on the need to be independent. Unfortunately, no matter how hard I tried to suppress it, I still crack. Sometimes it's hard to depend on someone else for anything. I know I can trust Atlas to be there. He has proven that. I think I can trust Gavin too, but it's like actually needing them has brought up years of past trauma. I know it's unfair to them. That I'm lashing out, but I can't help the involuntary reaction. Atlas and Gavin sit on opposite sides of me, both of them reaching for one of my hands.

Atlas hesitates before asking, “Do you wanna talk about it?”

“Do I have to?” My shoulders slump as the weight of this conversation settles onto them.