Page 28 of Shattered

“Ow.” She flinched, her head swinging to the right as she rubbed the back of her arm. “Did you just pinch me?”

“You got married!”Henley seethed, her eyes narrowing into tiny slits. “Without me!”

“We did,” I answered, earning myself an elbow to the solar plexus.

“Henley,” Jade slipped out of my hold, taking her friend's hands in hers. “I swear to you, we’ll explain everything later, but Jett is my priority right now. I have to make sure he’s okay, and then we’re going to celebrate the shit outta his birthday.”

“Yeah. Okay,” she agreed easily.

They started toward the door and that’s when I noticed.

“Angel, why the hell are you limping?”

“I’m sure it’s nothing, truly.” She tried—and failed—to protest when I scooped her stubborn ass up before she crossed the threshold, and then again as I gently sat her down on the living room sofa. Well, I wasn’t buying what she was selling. “My ego is bruised more than my toe.”

“Why didn’t you say anything?”

Taking a seat next to her, I pulled her foot into my lap. She braced when I slid off her shoe and sock, then sucked in a pained breath as I carefully probed the area. Her pinky toe had doubled in size and the surrounding skin had turned various shades of purple.

“I was embarrassed, okay?” She tucked her chin to her chest. “Besides, there’s nothing to be done, even if it is broken.”

I’d had my fair share of injured toes over the years.They were par for the course during training. What we needed was a few supplies to stabilize it.

“Do you have a first aid kit?” Keaton voiced my thoughts.

“Under the sink in the kitchen,” she answered.

“I’ll get it,” Henley volunteered, returning moments later with the small box, along with a bag of frozen peas and a dish towel.

“Are they gone?”

Jett slunk into the room, moving warily until he flanked Keaton, matching his pose. Feet shoulder width apart, arms crossed over his lanky chest, and fire blazing in his dark eyes. Behind him, with a matching glower, was who I assumed was the infamous Phoebe I’d heard about over the past week.

Jade scrambled to sit up, but I stilled her movement with a firm shake of my head and a hand to her knee.

“Yes. I’m sorry they ruined your birthday.”

“They didn’t ruin shit, Jade.”

“Language,” she admonished, biting her bottom lip as I tenderly placed a cotton ball between her toes then used a piece of medical tape to anchor her little toe to the one next to it. It wasn’t perfect, but it would do the job.

“I should get a pass after thatfoulsituation. Speaking of…when’s dinner? Get it? F.O.W.L?” He laughed at his own joke.

“You’re an idiot.” The teenage girl rolled her eyes.

“What? You’re the one who said you were starving.”

“Well, yeah…but I figured you’d do the chivalrous thing and make me something yourself,” she responded, flicking his ear.

“How long have you known me, Pheebs?” He raiseda brow.

“Good point,” she conceded. “I’d die hungry.”

“Oh my God, you two are priceless.” Henley threw her arms over their shoulders. “But no one’s going to starve on my watch. Let’s go. Both of you can give me a hand with the wings.”

They left and Jade wiggled her knee, drawing my attention back to her. “Could you help me get into the kitchen?” I opened my mouth to insist she stay put; however, she covered my lips with her finger. “Please, Koen. I need to feel like I’m doing something productive. I’ll just supervise, I swear.”

How could I deny her? I couldn’t, which didn’t bode well for me in the future.

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