Page 81 of The Pact

As if sensing that I’m awake, she opens her eyes. “Hey, sleepyhead.” She greets me softly, immediately feeling my forehead with her small hand. “You feel much cooler than you’ve been this whole time,” she comments.

I attempt to sit up, wincing a little and tilting my body so that I’m not resting on my left side.

The injured area is slightly sore but nothing compared to how it was until ... “How long have I been asleep?” I ask her.

“About three days. The doctor came back to see you yesterday and said that the worst is over and you’ll be ok. But for a while there I was worried. You were running a fever and Dr. Ross extracted two spines from your left butt cheek. There was swelling and your skin went from an angry red to a scary purple. I’ve been applying hot compresses on that and cold compresses to your forehead. For the first twenty-four hours you were vomiting and—”

“Aww, fuck!” I groan, covering my face with my hands. “Please tell me that you didn’t have to clean up my vomit?”

She looks perplexed. “Not really. I mean, I tried but Maria was adamant that it wasn’t my job. And moving you to change the bedsheets was a three person task anyway, so I knew I needed help.”

I exhale a sigh of relief. “Thank fuck. I’m sorry about this, Ausra. There I was, trying to put some moves on you, and lo and behold I’m puking my guts out and my butt is the size of a hot air balloon. Sexy AF, huh?”

She giggles, scooting closer and running a cool hand over my face. It tickles against my three days stubble.

Something hits me all of a sudden. “You said a three person job? Who else was here aside from you and Maria?”

I know that my hope that one of my parents stopped over long enough to take care of me is ridiculous, but I still hope against all common sense. The answer doesn’t surprise me.

“The guys took it in turns to help. Mostly Shep and Bode. Kelley had to be home with Nora because his mom had night shifts at the hospital. But he was here whenever he could. Why do you ask?”

I look at her, so pretty even with her hair tousled by the pillow and wearing one of my t-shirts to sleep in. That last part I actually love. The garment is huge on her but I like seeing her in my clothes. Especially in bed.

I avert my gaze. “So my parents didn’t come home at all?”

She shakes her head. “No. Maria said something about them extending their stay in London until tomorrow.”

I don’t even have to ask if they knew what happened to me. There’s no way Maria wouldn’t call them to let them know.

Ausra must pick up on the disappointment in my expression, because she adds, “But your mom called twice a day to ask how you were doing.”

I guess that’ll have to do. When she looks at me, I see something akin to compassion in her blue eyes. It isn’t pity, thankfully. It’s like she somehow understands how I feel. So I explain. “It’s nothing out of the ordinary. Since I turned fourteen, they’ve let the staff take care of me. They’re too busy for the day to day of parenthood. I guess I shouldn’t be too mad since Mom called. With Dad ... things are better since he began sponsoring the team. It’s like finally he can see some kind of value in his son. And he can parade me around with his business partner for being a junior champion.”

Yeah, she definitely understands how I feel. So I’m not mad when she commiserates. “I’m sorry, Ash.”

Her hand is still on my face and I cover it with mine. I know she lives with her sister and she always says that her parents were ridiculously strict but I have the feeling there’s more to it. “That bad, huh?”

She shrugs, fixing that blue gaze on me. “They were fine when my sister and I were little. It got worse once my dad started making a lot of money. He changed.”

I feel fury mounting at the idea of anyone mistreating her. I don’t know her that well but anyone can see how kind and sweet she is. “Family isn’t what we’re born into, Ausra. That’s just down to dumb luck and God knows that our parents can fuck us up like no one else. Family is the people you choose as your own. The ones who are there for you even when you don’t want them to.”

She opens her mouth to say something but a loud growl coming from her stomach makes redness rise to her cheeks.

“Yup. You’re fucking right, about family, buddy. But can you tell Smokey here that even family needs to eat?” Shep is standing by the door jamb. His tone is dripping with mock exasperation. “And before you give me shit for not feeding her, just know that she’s been absolutely impossible. She wouldn’t leave your side. We had to bring her food here or she wouldn’t eat. And even then, she was mostly focused on you, watching you sleep.”

Hearing that does something weird to my heart. I don’t even want to start picking at the strange feeling that’s spreading warmth in my chest, making it feel so full that it could burst. I didn’t even think about it when she was here when I woke up. But she hasn’t left my side.

I open my mouth to speak but Ausra snaps at Shep. “Shut up, Shep! You make it sound creepy!”

Shep’s eyebrows wiggle teasingly. “Maybe we like creepy?”

No one can stay serious when Shep has that expression of fake innocence on his face. Ausra’s voice is laced with laughter. “You’re a weirdo.”

He doesn’t skip a beat. “Maybe you like weirdos?”

I nip it in the bud. “Whatever, dude! How about instead of giving her shit, you go pick up something to eat?” I rub my stomach. “I’ve just realized I’m fucking starving.”

Shep smiles. “Shep at your service. What do you guys want?”

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