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He'd reeked of alcohol last night. I didn't have any clue how he'd managed to last without rest. He'd left to go to the bathroom a few times, returning more spent each time. I didn't smell the sickness on his breath though. He must have taken advantage of some mouthwash.

He handed the phone to me and I shook my head. "Can you tell her that I'm ready?"

"Ready for what?" he asked.

"Ready for her to come with me to the Women's Center for that therapy session." I hissed.

He didn't react to my irritability. The doctor said it was a side effect of my injury. I hated that, so I rested my hand on his thigh in apology. Eric's red eyes met mine in the rearview mirror. Ethan spun around, flipping his glasses off the top of his head to study me closer and Matt looked at me with wide-eyed appreciation.

"What, now?" Ryan asked.

"Yes." I nodded. "Before I change my mind." He placed his hand over mine.

The other guys didn't move as if they were afraid any sudden movements might set me off running again.

I didn't like this state of being so terrified, I was short of breath just because the outside was looking at me too intensely. The doctor also said that therapy should help with the whole short temperedness and I'd like to stop snapping at my men. If they started walking on eggshells around me, I'd want to curl up in a ball and die. So, I had to be brave. Bravery was a lot easier knowing I had a literal support group accompanying me.

Ryan

Okay, well, that was unexpected, but welcome. I was happy that Lily was going to see that therapist, finally. However, me and the guys kind of made plans. Chalk it up to a head pounding hangover, no sleep, no food in my stomach after expelling all the contents inside it, but I wasn't regretting that message I sent to Tyler last night, and again this morning. I was a little delirious, but that was okay. Or it wasn't. It didn't matter because my brain didn't have the capacity at the moment to think beyond what I was feeling and what I was feeling hadn't changed.

After the doctors gave us the rundown of the side effects of a fractured skull, in both places, my anger only amplified. That red ball of light and fury only expanded. We'd decided that after dropping Lily off, two of us would meet with Tyler, while the other two stayed with Lily. I was one of the two who would meet with Tyler.

There was no way I was missing out now. I know, I'd changed my tune. You'd be surprised what seeing the love of your life lying unconscious will do to you. After worrying about whether they're about to lose their life or not, while being under the influence, and while being offered the chance to enact revenge on the people who caused it... I wasn't saying it was justified. I was just saying, this was where I was at.

Except, Lily was going to need us there with her for support.

She'll have Ann-Marie. Okay, but I didn't know how to tell her that we were walking away from her when she needed us the most.

Oh, get your head out of your ass. You sound cocky as hell. Do you want to go or not?

Instead of the devil and the angel, it was like having two devils on my shoulders. One was telling me to go with Tyler and the other was simply telling me to wait. They were both in agreement with going with Tyler. If there was an angel there, I couldn't hear or see it.

Taking the plunge and bracing myself for attack, I smoothed my hand over hers when we'd pulled up to the women's shelter where Ann-Marie and Tyler were waiting. She took a deep breath at the sight of them and reached for the door handle.

I halted her.

"I know this is terrible timing..." I started.

She directed an impatient glare at me. I could tell she was already trying not to talk herself out of meeting with the therapist, and me stalling her was helping to drive her anxiety even more to the surface. I hurried my words with that in mind.

"It's just the guys and I had something important to do today. Something we can't miss," I worked up the nerve to say.

She balked at me, turning her attention to the other guys. Eric and Matt glared at me with the unspoken, 'don't bring us into this' or rather, 'don't throw us under the bus along with you.' She swallowed and her body went still for a moment as hurt flashed like lightning through her eyes. Confusion drew lines between her brows as she dropped her head, trying to process what she'd just heard. When she caught her breath, she dipped out of the car without a word, looking over her shoulder in disbelief as she made her way over to Ann-Marie who was waiting.

My heart cried out at my stupid words. Still I remained seated in the car, reminding myself that what I was about to do was for her.

"What the fuck, man?" Ethan hissed, his eyes on Lily being wrapped into a tight hug by Ann-Marie who pulled back to run her fingers over Lily's cheeks before glaring at our car.

Her own mouth fell open as she responded to something Tyler said and watched him leave them there. She hooked her arm through Lily's elbow, posturing her shoulders as they walked inside together.

"It was just you and Eric who had plans to go with Tyler. Now she hates all of us," Ethan grumbled.

"Okay? I didn't hear you object. Why didn't you follow her inside?" I asked him and Matt.

Ethan sighed and narrowed his eyes. Matt looked out the window.

"Yeah. That's what I thought," I said, playing devil's advocate.

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