Page 18 of If You Were Mine
He had been badly burned on his side, and he’d broken his leg, twisting it in a way that I couldn’t even bear to think about. According to Hudson, eventually Dorian would walk without a limp, and his scars would remain, but it could have been worse. That’s what everyone kept saying. It could have been worse.
But it had been worse for Joshua. No, I wasn’t going to think about that. I couldn’t. Not if I wanted to stay sane.
“I’m fine,” he bit out. “Let me walk you home.”
“You’re here. In Cage Lake. Why didn’t you tell me you were coming?”
“We need to get you back to your place,” he said in lieu of answer.
“That’s where I was going until my dog deserted me. I need to go home and shower and then get to work. How long are you in town for?” I asked, trying to keep my voice level. I didn’t want to sound accusatory, or like I was begging, because being in Dorian’s presence was always a war of emotions.
Because I had loved him since I was eighteen, in the way that the younger sister loved the older brother’s best friend.
But he had always been there, always sweet, always caring.
And always not for me.
“I don’t know. I’m just here. So, let me take care of you.”
Exasperated, I shook my head. “I’m an adult, a big girl. You don’t have to take care of me, Dorian. But I’m glad you’re here. You haven’t been back in a while.”
“I’ve been a little busy,” he ground out.
“Doing what?” I asked before I held up a hand. “No, that’s not my business. I’m sorry. Are you staying at your place? I know Hudson’s been keeping it up.”
“No. I got another place.”
I frowned. “What? Where?”
“The old Ackerson place.”
My brows winged up. “Really? That place has been abandoned forever. I didn’t know it was habitable.”
“It’s fine. I’m working on it for a while.”
“So you’re here working on a house? In the dead of winter?” Confusion didn’t begin to explain the emotions running through me.
“It doesn’t matter. I’m here because I want to be. And fuck, I told Joshua that I would take care of you. So I might as well live up to the deal.”
It felt as if another slash to my heart would be one too many, but I was used to this. Because of course he was here to take care of Joshua’s baby sister. That’s how it had always been.
It didn’t matter that I was in my twenties and a woman. I was the baby sister.
But from the strain in his eyes, and the dark circles that rivaled my own, Dorian needed to take care of himself.
“Is Amy with you?” I asked, and I was happy I kept the bite out of my tone.
Storm clouds covered his eyes, and he glared. “I have no idea where Amy is. Seems she didn’t like staying with a cripple.”
I fisted my hands on my sides. “Oh, I’m going to find that bitch. Did she say those words?”
He shrugged. “Water under the bridge. She’s gone. Your brother was right, and I’m going to be here for a while. So stop running alone and hurting yourself, okay?”
“Are you serious right now? You haven’t seen me in nearly a year. You don’t answer my calls or texts. And suddenly you show up and try to order me around, while you’re being all secretive with the Ackerson place. What the hell, Dorian?”
“Stop arguing and just get back to a safer place. And make sure that you don’t have anything worse than bruises. You need to be more careful, Harper.”
I stared at him, wondering who this Dorian was. Then again, I didn’t think I was the Harper he had seen last.
