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He grunts and pulls a pillow over his head.
“Is that a no?”
He mutters something.
“Sorry, I didn’t catch that. Want to try again?”
“Can you just bring me something back?”
“Why don’t you come over in half an hour. Or I can text you when the food is ready. You don’t have to stay long. It would be good to leave your room, don’t you think?”
“I leave my room.”
“To go to the kitchen. When was the last time you stepped outside? You haven’t even attempted class.”
“Are you really going to get on me about this?”
I bite my lips together. I don’t know what to do or say. I hate fighting. Hate it. “I’ll text you in a bit.” I close his door and trudge back to my house, feeling defeated.
The kitchen is bustling. Lovey is rolling out pizza dough, Quinn is making homemade sauce, River is grating cheese, Josiah is making salad, Rose is sautéing onions, and Lacey is chopping veggies.
“I need help.” I prop my fists on my hips and tip my chin up, because I’m on the verge of tears.
Lovey, Rose, and Josiah drop what they’re doing and fold me into a group hug. Lacey joins them next, and then River and Quinn wrap themselves around all of us.
“What the fuck is going on here?”
“Is that Dracula?” Rose’s nose is smushed against my arm.
I can’t see through the sea of bodies surrounding me. “It sounds like him.”
“Group hug. Want in?” River asks.
“Physical contact is something I try to avoid, but thanks,” Laughlin says.
Everyone steps back, and Lovey gives me a sympathetic smile. “Is it BJ?”
“I don’t know what to do anymore. He’s not leaving his room. He hasn’t even tried to go to class this week. Not once. Not even behavioral psych, and that’s his favorite. The only reason he leaves his room is to get food. I don’t even know if he’s showered.”
“Ew.” Lacey wrinkles her nose.
“His room smells like the inside of a hockey bag.”
“That is accurate,” Quinn agrees.
“I get that he’s struggling, but lying around in bed all day is the opposite of progress. I don’t want to start an argument. I hate fighting, but I don’t know what I’m supposed to do.”
Rose points a spatula at me. “You could use sex as a weapon!”
Quinn frowns. “Uh, I don’t know that BJ is in any condition for sex. I’ve had a groin pull and a fucking hard-on is enough of a struggle. I know this isn’t the same, but it’s in the same area, and all those muscles are interconnected. And he’s got a lot of stitches, both internal and external. The best you can probably do is rub the lamp.”
“Or offer BJ a BJ,” Josiah suggests.
Lovey’s hand shoots up, then drops when she realizes it’s unnecessary. “While I don’t disagree with this tactic, I think you can up the ante.” Her smile turns sly. “You need to remind him what he’s missing.”
“What do you mean?”
“BJ is always checking you out. That man is in love with your ass.”
