Page 54 of Repairing the Wreckage

“I’m not twice my size,” I protest. “And I can get myself off the couch by myself. Unless you’re gonna help me take a piss next?”

Juliet glances at Vapor. “You might want to make sure there’s no blood in his urine.”

Vapor opens his mouth—hopefully to protest—but I cut him off.

“Absolutely not.” I shake my head. “I’m fine. I got an appointment with a local doctor later in the week to test kidney function. It’s not like I haven’t been here before.”

“I haven’t seen you this fucked up since the nights we were fighting for our lives in the basement, brother,” Eraser says in a solemn tone rarely heard from him.

“Thanks.” I attempt a withering glare. “Why don’t you take your cheerful ass home and let me suffer in peace now.”

“I don’t think we should leave you alone,” Juliet protests. “What if you have a concussion?”

“I got checked out by the doc after the fight. Slept fine last night.” I reach over and squeeze her hand. “Thanks, though.”

She bites her lip and flicks her gaze to Vapor. “All right.” Obvious reluctance slows her words. “We’re stopping by tomorrow morning right after we drop Atlas off at school, though.”

“Okay,” I agree, not that she’s giving me a choice. My eyelids drop. “I’m beat.”

Eraser stands and nods at Vapor. “Let’s get him into the bedroom.”

“Are you planning to tuck me in like a toddler?” I grumble.

Eraser leans down, shoving his big, bushy bearded face in mine. “Yeah, little buddy. You wanna go potty first?”

Ella snickers. Juliet smacks Eraser’s arm with the back of her hand.

I slowly push myself to the edge of the couch. Fuck, that hurts. I shouldn’t have sat on my lumpy couch for so long. I might need them to carry me after all.

“Come on.” Vapor slips his hand under my arm.

“Uh, uh,” I warn. “My shoulder and wrist are fucked, too. Let me do it.”

After choking down several yelps of pain, I finally make it into my bedroom. Eraser and Vapor hover behind me like mother cats the whole way.

“I’m fine.” I use one arm to try and lift my T-shirt off and immediately get stuck.

“Jesus.” Vapor helps me ease out of the fabric and tosses it aside. “Eraser can do your pants.”

“I can get the pants.” God, I hate this. “But if you’d dig a pair of sweats out of the third drawer over there, that’d help.”

“Fucking hell, Griff.” Eraser stands in my doorway staring at my bruised torso. “You crack any ribs?”

I twist and stare at my right side. Deep purple bruising stains my skin from hip to armpit. “Felt like it. But they checked. No.”

After a lot of unmanly whimpers, I finally change and slide into bed. The mattress squeaks and dips. After sleeping on that fancy cloud bed for so long at the house, my own feels like laying on a mound of dirty laundry. But it’s home. Relief washes over me. I made it home.

First thing I’m doing with my winnings is buying a new bed.

The edge of my covers rustle. There’s a clink and rattle next to my head.

“I think he’s already asleep,” Juliet whispers.

“No,” I mumble.

“I left a glass of water and a bottle of Tylenol on the nightstand.” Something warm and coco-nutty covers my face. Soft lips graze my forehead. “I’m glad you’re home,” Juliet whispers. “Rest up.”

If I could move my arms, I’d hug her. “Thank you.”

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