AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I’ll need some shorts.”
I hurried to get him a loose pair and knelt down so he wouldn’t need to move more than necessary. As soon as his shorts were to his knees, he managed to shift his weight and pull them up. He was sweaty and shaking by the time he was done.
“What do you think, Tor?” Adam said. “Time for a ride?”
Tor answered by slowly sliding an arm under Adam’s legs.
“Lean into me. Tell me when you’re ready.”
Each move they made was slow and careful and broke my heart. Adam’s back had dark bruised patches all over. His arms weren’t as bad. His thighs looked like they’d taken the brunt of it. I could see why he wouldn’t have wanted to be carried, and it worried me that he’d changed his mind in the end.
I did my best not to hover and to keep all of what I was feeling from showing in my expression. As soon as they were in the bathroom, I started fixing the bed. Tor, the sweetheart, closed the door for Adam but stayed in there. I could hear the low murmur of voices and a burst of laughter that could have only been Tor due to its force.
Once I had the bed remade, I grabbed an extra blanket and pillow for Tor. He wasn’t using a reclining chair but, hopefully, both items would make him more comfortable.
The door opened, and Tor leaned against it, glancing out at me. I took that as an invitation to peek around the corner. Adam stood, leaning against the counter, carefully brushing his teeth.
“Are they all staying in?” I asked.
He carefully spit.
“So far. Lots of pink, though.”
I didn’t doubt it based on the bruise decorating his jaw.
He didn’t take long, and I could see how much he hurt as he used Tor’s arm to help him hobble back to the bed.
“I can’t decide which hurt more,” he panted. “Carrying or this.”
As soon as he reached his side of the bed, he leaned forward into it, slowly collapsing and rolling into place with Tor’s help.
“I need better meds,” he said, the strain plain on his face. “Right now, I’m wishing I was dead.”
For him to say something like that conveyed just how badly he hurt.
Worrying my bottom lip, I went downstairs and dug out a paper and something to write with.
“Brog, are you safe when you travel between the two towns at night?”
“Yes.”
“Could you take this to Cassie? The pain relievers aren’t enough. He needs something a little stronger. He won’t be able to sleep without it.”
Brog took the paper. Once he was gone, I asked Tor for more snow and packed the bags around Adam’s knee.
“This is why I didn’t want you to watch,” he said, without anger.
“Ignorance isn’t bliss. It’s just more to worry about.”
He caught my hand and brought it to his lips.
“I love you, June.”
“I love you, too. Now where else do you need snow?”
By the time I had him iced up, Brog returned with a bottle, which he brought upstairs.
“Cassie said one now and one at first light. She will bring more.”
