Page 3 of Complete Me

I shake my head. “Nah.” The one thing that would really make me feel better is a good snuggle, and I’m not doing that with any of my siblings. “Pita still with Erik and Jules?”

“Yeah. He loves being out there. They’ve been taking him on hikes, and I’ll bet Jules has convinced Erik to let Pita sleep on the bed with them.”

I roll my eyes like that’s ridiculous, and don’t mention that I always let my sixty-some pound Norwegian Elkhound baby boy sleep on the bed with me. I live by myself in an enormous house, I’m way too busy with my job for a relationship, and I like to snuggle. Some days it’s the only physical contact I get. I purposely ignore how unhealthy that sounds.

Astrid returns, followed by a nurse with a small medicine cup. I assume it contains the pain medication I agreed to take. “Hi there. Your sister tells me you’re ready for some pain relief.” When I nod, she sets the cup in front of me. “It should take the edge off, though it might make you drowsy.”

Instead of glaring at my siblings, I take the little cup and pop the pill into my mouth, washing it down with a swig of coffee. “Thanks.” She pats my shoulder, then puts the bed control with the call button near me and leaves.

Astrid squeezes my hand. “Okay, time for me to get to work. I’ll stop at the grocery tonight and restock your fridge for you. And before you ask, no, I’m not buying you ice cream or cookies. I will buy you fresh produce and lots of things you can grill, even if it’s forty degrees and raining outside.”

I sigh, resigned to eating healthy, at least until I can place a grocery order myself. “Thanks, Bean. I love you.”

“I love you, too.” She leans down and kisses my cheek, squeezing my hand one more time before she leaves.

Gunnar shoves to his feet and props his hip against the bed. “I should probably get going, too. I’ll be here tomorrow morning to take you home.” He nudges my arm. “And I’ll stop at the store and pick up some snacks. I worked through most of your stash last week, anyway. There’s not much left for Astrid to find.”

I groan with relief. “Thanks. Will you get Pop-Tarts? Strawberry and the brown sugar ones with the frosting. And pudding? Plain chocolate. Oh, and some refrigerator chocolate chip cookie dough. Please. And thank you.”

Gunnar snorts. “Anything else?” I shake my head. “Alright.” He squeezes my shoulder and leans down to kiss my cheek. “I love you, Bjorn.”

With my eyes stinging, I put my hand over his. “I love you, too.”

We hold each other’s gaze for a moment, enjoying this new truce between us. It feels different this time. Like it might actually hold, and I hope it does. “See you in the morning.” His mischievous grin is back in an instant. “I’ll bring the snacks with me.”

“Good. I’m going to need a Pop-Tart first thing.” He laughs, and with a wave, he’s out the door.

Picking up the TV remote, I flip through the channels, scanning for anything even mildly interesting. The pain medication is beginning to kick in, easing the ache in my side, and things are becoming a little fuzzy, but it’s not too bad.

After flipping through the channels twice, I finally settle on a cooking show, but before I can relax into my pillow, there’s another knock on my door. With a sigh, I turn off the TV. “Come in.” A white-blond head pokes around the doorframe. Positive I’m hallucinating, I stare into emerald green eyes that still haunt my dreams.

“Hello, Bjorn. Mind if I come in?”

2

Kaino

Bjorn blinks, not saying a word, and it’s so unlike him that I consider calling the nurse. “Bjorn?”

“Wow.” He slowly blinks a few more times. “Whatever they gave me for the pain is some good shit.” He rubs his eyes then looks at me again. “Really good shit.”

I snort and raise an eyebrow. “Are you going to let me come in, or will we be having this visit through the doorway?”

“Damn, you even sound like you.”

I push the door open and lean against the doorjamb, fighting a smile. “That’s because I am me. Should I go?” I gesture over my shoulder to the elevators.

“No!” Bjorn flings himself forward, like he’s trying to sit up, and gasps, all the color draining from his face as he drops back against the bed. “Fuck.” I turn to call a nurse. “Wait, don’t go!”

I gesture over my shoulder. “I’m going to get someone. You’re in pain.”

“Fuck that.” He waves me into the room. “I moved wrong. It’s fine now.”

He doesn’t look fine. “You’re sure?”

“Yes.” I give in and walk toward the bed.

He watches me intently as I sit in one of the chairs, ignoring his offered hand. Bjorn drops it to the bed, and I wince at the momentary flash of hurt in his eyes. But it’s here and gone, quickly replaced by a dopey grin. “You’re really here. Why? And how are you?”

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