Page 50 of Up In Flames
“What? No!” I shout, startling everyone in the room. God, I don’t want to stay here so nurses can wake me up every hour and ask me annoying questions. I look at Livvy pleadingly. “Can’t you stay with me?”
She looks back at me with her apology written all over her face. “Sorry, Bird, I can’t be awake all night. I have a huge chemistry exam tomorrow morning.”
My head snaps back in frustration, but the movement hurts from the whiplash I sustained, and I grimace. “Ouch! Fuck.”
Suddenly, Phoenix comes into my field of vision as he addresses the doctor while wearing a shit-eating grin I don’t quite understand. “He can stay with this gentleman right here. There’s plenty of room.”
“What?” Knox demands.
Phoenix just smiles wider. “Payback’s a bitch, isn’t it, Knoxy? Consider us even. Hope you feel better soon, Taylor,” he adds, slipping his sunglasses back on before disappearing from the room.
Knox’s nostrils flare, and I know he’s pissed at being put on the spot. His eyes close, and he pinches the bridge of his nose like this whole situation is giving him a migraine. But finally, he says, “Fine. He can stay with me.”
An hour later, I’m released into Knox’s care. We’ve dropped Livvy back off at the marina so she can get her car, and then we’re headed to Knox’s house.
If I felt better, I’d be giddy knowing I’m about to be back in his space. But my meds must be wearing off because my head feels like Javier is taking a hammer to it.
I’m rubbing my temples when Knox’s voice booms through the cab of his truck.
“What’s wrong?” he asks, barely masking his concern.
“Is it really necessary to yell?” I ask, each syllable making my head throb a little more.
“What’s wrong?” he asks again in a whisper.
“I can’t get the jackhammer to stop inside my skull. Pretty sure that’s an outdoor activity.”
It could be my imagination, but I swear he steps on the gas a little harder.
When we get to his house, I try to unbuckle, but honestly, the sudden movements almost make me throw up on the floorboard.
“Stay there. I’ll help you inside,” Knox says before climbing out of the truck.
Never mind the fact that I really do need the help right now, I wouldn’t in a million years refuse a chance to touch Knox Bennett.
As he opens my door and helps me out of the truck, my limbs feel heavy, the world is still slightly tilted, and the sunlight is fucking brutal.Is it always this bright outside? How do humans stand it?
I slip because I’m sluggish and his truck is so high, but before I can correct myself, I’m weightless.
Without even cracking an eye open, I feel Knox’s hard chest against my right arm. This fucker iscradlingme for the second time today.God, I wish I felt good enough to enjoy this.
The faster I get inside, where it’s hopefully cold and dark, the better.
“Come on, let’s get you settled,” Knox says as he manhandles me.
I hear the garage door open, and then we’re in the shade.Thank God.A second later, a blast of cold air hits me, and I sigh in relief.
“What’s wrong?” Knox asks again.
“Nothing,” I whisper. “Cold air feels nice. Medicine?” I ask, knowing the doctor gave me muscle relaxers as well as something for my headache.
“Yeah, baby, I’ve got your medicine.”
Hold the fucking phone.
He realizes he called me baby at the same time I do. He tenses, but I don’t call him on it…mostly because everything is really starting to hurt.
Knox lays me down somewhere…a bed? The couch? I don’t know, but I fight the urge to curl into a pathetic ball. A sharp pain zings through my skull, and I must moan out loud because a second later, Knox is at my side.
