Page 19 of Protect

“Is she thinking he’ll need some?” I ask.

The moment I speak King’s eyes slightly flutter open, and that damn lopsided smirk, although a little dozy this time, appears on his face.

Someone’s got some good pain meds in him.

“She didn’t seem to think so but it’s hard to tell yet,” the nurse offers.

I glance down at King as we walk. His left leg is out from under the blanket, already having been wrapped and treated by the ER staff. There are spots the gauze doesn’t cover, those areas look like they have patches of first-degree burns, angry and pink. His good arm even has some first degree burns on it. The ERnurse tells me his second-degree wounds have been cleaned and coated in Xylocaine jelly for pain.

“That must have been quite the job for you guys down there, getting him clean,” I say, gesturing to his filthy appearance.

“Uh…ya.” She laughs.

“Our doc up here will probably give it until tomorrow to assess,” I say back to her.

King’s eyes open a little more with my voice. Groggy, but just as blue as always. They’re bloodshot, and I wonder when the last time he actually slept well was.

“Hey, Vi,” King mumbles. “You look really fucking pretty.”

The ER nurse stops talking and eyes me up, I feel my cheeks flush.

“He was my brother’s friend,” I offer awkwardly.

“I was your friend too, until I fucked up and?—”

“Okay, let’s just get you settled.” I talk over him nervously, just hoping he’ll shut up. If he wasn’t already injured, I would smack him.

I look back at the ER nurse, she rolls her eyes and ignores our back and forth.

“He’s good and stable, we just gave him some morphine.”

That explains it.

“This stuff is the tits, Vi…I don’t feel anything.” Rowan gives me a very high thumbs up with his good hand, his eyes closed and his bottom lip between his teeth.

Christ almighty.

The nurse and I chat as the porter positions King’s bed into place. I work to hang his IV fluids up, hoping if no one says anything, King will just keep his thoughts to himself until I can get her out of here.

King mumbles something, but I can’t quite make it out. His tanned and soot covered skin is such a stark contrast to the gown and his good arm is propped up, strong and defined, even inrest. My brother’s tattoo is front and center, causing my chest to tighten as I take it in, reminding me once again that Jacob didn’t end up so lucky. I have a moment of sympathy rush through me thinking about King seeing Jacob in those moments and the demons he must live with.

I squeeze my eyes shut and take a breath in the dimly lit room.

“I’ll leave you to it,” the nurse says, a hint of a grin playing at the corners of her weathered eyes. “He’s all yours.”

I offer her a friendly smile. Outside, I’m the picture of composure, but inside, I’m wondering how the hell I’m going to make it through what looks like at least a week of me giving Rowan Kingsley close, personal care.

AGE 18

My parents’ living room

“You guys are going to take samplesagain?” Jacob pops a handful of Doritos into his mouth as he eyes me up. He’s wearing his standard gym shorts with a tattered T-shirt and his short dark brown hair is wet from the shower.

“Why are you so dressed up?” he asks around his food.

I watch him as he shoves it in, bouncing his knee as he talks. He's been super antsy lately, something I can’t quite put my finger on has been off. And maybe it’s a twin thing but when he’s antsy, so am I. I look away from him and down at my outfit so my nerves don’t skyrocket any more than they already have.

“It’s just a sundress,” I mutter defensively, cocking my hip and placing a hand on it.

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