Page 61 of Might as Well

I shrug but wince at the pain. The nurse checks the machines over and I realize my room is pretty full still. It looks like not only is Violet here, but so are Sydney and Cassie.

“They refused to leave her,” the nurse says, noticing my gaze. “Get some rest; the doctor will be in in the morning.”

They kept me overnight to keep an eye on my burns mostly. I’ll be glad to get out of here. Even asleep, I can feel Violet’s anxiousness over me being hurt even though for all intents and purposes I’m okay.

My mind wanders to Liam Irving. I can’t imagine what he must be feeling right now. He made a horrible choice years ago and cheated on his wife, who promptly left him and took his now eight- or nine-year-old daughter with her. I didn’t have to be close to the guy to know he regretted it and wished he could have his family back. And now, they’re gone forever.

Fuck, it’s terrible.

I reach out and run my fingers through Violet’s hair. She’s going to be so sore in the morning. I don’t know how she’s even comfortable enough to sleep. She should’ve gone home, but trying to convince her to leave after scaring her to death was like talking to a wall. She shifts, groans, and sits up.

When she spots that I’m awake, she looks embarrassed.

“Sorry. I didn’t mean to wake you,” she whispers.

“You didn’t,” I whisper back. “Get up here with me.”

Before she can object, I slowly and carefully move over some and angle my legs away so she doesn’t accidentally hit them. Violet doesn’t argue with me, though. I shouldn’t be surprised. She likely still wants to reassure herself that I’m here and okay.

Violet snuggles against me and I take a slow, steady breath.

“This okay?” she asks.

“Perfect.” I close my eyes and fall asleep within seconds.

Morning seems to come quickly. I manage to wake before the women in my room. One by one, Violet’s friends wake and give me small smiles. Violet wakes last.

Sydney runs out to get breakfast for everyone while we wait for my discharge. The room is quiet for the most part. With all the injuries, I’m out the rest of the season most likely. I’m sure Violet won’t mind. At least I’ll certainly be around for all her appointments now.

By noon, my discharge comes and we head home. Apparently, we can’t quite rid ourselves of the women because they all follow us to the house.

“We’re fine,” I try after watching them pepper Violet with various tasks and errands they’re willing to do for her. “Shouldn’t someone check in on Liam?”

Sydney winces. “He’s made it abundantly clear he wants to be left alone. Lizzy went to check on him and he bit her head off. Sounds like everyone is giving him his space.”

“And we’re Violet’s best friends,” Cassie says. “We’ll go when she asks us to leave.”

We all turn to look at Violet, who sits next to me and attempts to shrink with everyone’s eyes on her.

“I’m okay,” she manages to say. “You guys don’t have to stay.”

“If you need anything at all,” Sydney starts.

“You better call,” Cassie finishes, leveling a look at Violet.

“Promise, I will,” she says.

After another five minutes, the women leave us finally. The moment they are gone, Violet shifts to lie down with her head in my lap. I’d bet my salary she wants to snuggle and wrap herself around me, but her head in my lap is about as good as it gets right now on the couch.

“Are you hungry?” I ask her. “I can order pizza for lunch.”

“Sounds good,” she replies softly.

“There is a perk to all of this.”

She rolls onto her back to look at me. “What’s that?”

“You’ll have me for at least the next six weeks while I heal.”

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