Page 29 of Resolutions

“Go away,” I mumble. “I'm not moving till they find her. I'll remain here and there's nothing anyone can do about it.”

“Bullshit.”

“Like hell.”

They speak in unison, and then it starts. One grabs the left side of my blanket, the other the right. They pull downward while I desperately cling to my protective cocoon. If they want a battle, then fine, let's battle. I yank back. They pull. When they finally wrench it away, I notice they're still in their hospital scrubs. They came straight from work. The realization that they'd drop everything to check on me makes my throat tight.

“Shit, you smell like something died in here.” Colton wrinkles his nose.

“Tough.” I growl.

“Cameron,” Carson's voice gentles like he's talking to a spooked animal. “Come on, you need to get up, shower, eat something. This isn't healthy.”

“Why should I eat?” I snap, still in my bed. “How do I know she's eating?” The words tear from my throat. “What if she's hungry? Has she had water? Is she cold? What if she hasn't showered or slept? What if-” My voice breaks and I stop.

“She's still going to smell better than you.” Colton throws open both windows. “This room needs serious ventilation.”

“Shut. The. Damn. Windows.”

“Do it yourself.”

“GO AWAY!” I pull a pillow over my face.

“Trust me, with that smell we'd love to,” Colton pokes my side. “But we're your brothers. We're not leaving you like this. Plus, Mom summoned us, and I'm not facing her wrath because you've decided to become a cave troll.”

“Not happening, little brother.” Carson agrees. “Now get up. Mom's cooking dinner.”

“Screw that. I'm staying here.”

“I don't think you understand how this works,” Carson's voice carries a warning.

“Go away!”

“Get up!”

“Make me.”

“Gladly.”

“Hell yes!”

Before I can react, they grab my legs and start dragging me toward the bathroom. I kick and thrash, but they've got me. In desperation, I grab the mattress, dragging it and all the bedding with me.

“LET GO OF ME!”

“GET YOUR ASS OUT OF BED!”

“At least you're getting some circulation now,” Carson, ever the oldest sensible brother, comments in his doctor's voice.

“SHUT UP CARSON!” Colton and I yell together.

“BOTH OF YOU SHUT UP AND YOU GET IN THE DAMN SHOWER!” The niceness of Carson's doctor's voice is gone.

“I'M NOT GETTING IN THE SHOWER!” I bellow.

“WANNA BET?” Colton yells. “IF WE HAVE TO, WE'LL GET IN WITH YOU!”

“We will?” Carson sounds uncertain until he locks eyes with Colton. “I mean, HELL YEAH WE WILL!”

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