Page 66 of Wicked Truths

I shrug, cuddling my face deeper into the thin pillow. “I’m freezing. Do you have extra blankets?”

She grimaces. “Yeah, how about I get you a sheet instead?” She pats my calf with her gloved hand. “You’re really warm. That’s one of the things I’m going to check, but before we do that, I need a urine sample. By the way, do you happen to have your meds with you?”

My fingers point toward the door, which conveniently pops open. Sullivan’s tattooed hand slides inside, and he holds out a plastic bag with my meds in it.

Jess laughs again. “Apparently I dismissed him too quickly. All right, do you need some help getting to the restroom?”

“Um, I think I can make it.” I push myself up, but I’m squinting so hard that I can barely see anything.

Jess clicks a light on the wall and only a few of the ceiling tiles stay lit, so it’s with a much dimmer glow. “Does this help?”

“Yeah, thank you.”

The door opens again as I’m sliding my legs off the side of the hospital bed.

“Wait for me,” Hawk growls, stomping across the room.

“Iwas waiting for that to happen,” Jess says in her cheerful, melodic tone. “The cups are on the shelf on the wall. I need the one with the blue lid.” She turns to head out, and I blink in confusion.

I guess she thinks we’re together. I have no idea.

Hawk scoops me up and hisses when his forearm meets my thighs. “I swear to fuck you’re actually burning my skin.”

“Sorry.”

“God, don’t apologize. Let’s get you into the bathroom.” He opens the door, carrying me inside. “It’s convenient that you’re in a dress. I’m surprised she didn’t put you in a gown. Do you need some help getting your panties down?”

Ohmigod, just kill me now.

I would have given pretty much anything to hear that from him under different circumstances.

My head shakes. “No, lean me against the wall. I’ll be fine.”

“I don’t think so.” Hawk transfers me to one large forearm and slides a hand up my thigh, giving my underwear a tug. My face flames, either from the fever or the situation, but he’s very professional and doesn’t cross any lines as he repeats the process on the other side. He yanks my underwear off over my sandals and shoves them in his jeans pocket before settling me on the toilet. He bunches my dress around my middle. It’s difficult to understand why I’m not melting into a pile of embarrassment that could be easily flushed down said toilet.

It’s mortifying.

I am mortified.

Hawk’s fingers brush over my cheek, and despite the uncomfortable situation, I still nuzzle my face into his wrist. “I thrive when I can look after the people I care about. Don’t take that away from me.” He looks so sincere that I simply nod. I’m not doing good at the moment, meaning now isn’t the time to be stubborn and independent.

It also feels kind of nice that he wants to take care of me. “Okay, but you’re leaving the room while I pee.”

He scoffs, grabbing a cup off the shelf on the wall and cracking the lid. He grabs a paper towel, places it on the sink, and puts the lid on it. He turns the water on low and hands me the cup before turning to face the wall.

“Um, you can go now,” I say, trying to keep myself from wobbling.

Hawk grunts. “Pee in the cup, or I’ll come over there and hold it for you.”

I blink repeatedly, but something in the tight lines of tension in his shoulders, or maybe his tone, tells me he’s not joking.

I definitely slipped into an alternate reality, or maybe this is a fever dream.

* * *

After I use the restroom, Hawk helps me wash my hands and totes me back to the hospital bed.

Jess comes in and sends him out.

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