Page 58 of Forever Yours

CHAPTER 17

I swear, if one more person fluffed my already too-fluffed pillows, I was going to scream. Since being discharged from the hospital, I’d been coddled, babied, and cared for within an inch of my life. Everyone’s good intentions were driving me bonkers.

“I’ll only be gone a couple of hours.” Julien pressed a million butterfly kisses to my lips.

“You missed classes today. You can’t miss soccer practice. I’m good. Dad’s here. Stop worrying.”

“Ain’t going to happen. Until Fallon finds that guy, I’m going to smother you with worry.” He pecked a kiss on my lips. “And so much love.” Another kiss. “And—” His lips moved to my ear. “Remember how good you took care of me when I got out of the hospital?”

My entire body hurt, but my dick didn’t. It went rock hard at the memory of going down on Julien for the first time. It was also the first time he said he loved me. Another first? I had been in a fight with Marshall that day. And won. Kicked his ass for hurting Julien on the soccer field during one of their games. So whatever Marshall and his asshole friends had planned, I knew I could handle it.

Groaning, I hushed out, “You play dirty.”

Julien leaned back and smiled. “When I get home, we’re kicking everyone out, and I’m going to make you feel sodamn good.”

My boyfriend was sadistic, leaving me when I was throbbing with need.

“Go.”

One more kiss and Julien was gone.

I looked around the living room of the condo. Since the fiasco of the failed dinner, the guys had unpacked the rest of the moving boxes and cleaned up. Dad had wanted me to come home for the rest of the week to recuperate, but Julien insisted I stay with him and the guys, which made more sense. A long car trip did not appeal in the state I was in.

Getting comfortable as best as I could with the half dozen pillows stuffed around me, I laid back and looked up at the ceiling. I wasn’t supposed to tax my brain for two days. Apparently, that was the treatment for mild concussions. No visual stimuli. No video games, television, or things that made me think too hard. I was going to be bored out of my ever-loving mind.

I was also worried about classes. Third day in, and I was already missing most of the first week. That being said, not much happened the first week—I hoped—so it should be easy for me to catch up over the weekend.

Afternoon sunlight flickered across the ceiling in dancing patterns. I watched them for a bit, growing increasingly sleepy. The empty condo was so quiet, every single noise filtered into the living room. I could hear the engine of a lawn mower outside, the thump of footsteps going up or down the stairwell, and muffled voices. But it was Dad’s low, angry voice coming from the kitchen that caught my attention.

“What the hell is wrong with you? Your son was brutalized. Don’t you care?”

He was talking to Mom? With painstaking effort, I sat up and cocked my head to hear him better. The more I heard, the more I wished I hadn’t.

“Can you not be a bitch for one second? You’re his mother, act like it… Elijah is more important than meeting with the wedding planner… Don’t you hang up… dammit…”

Seconds later, Dad appeared with a tray of food, a bottled water, and a fake smile.

“The boys have a well-stocked kitchen. Are you up for a turkey sandwich and some soup?”

He placed the tray on the coffee table and sat down in the armchair closest to me.

“Was that Mom?”

Picking up the plate, he held it out for me.

“How much did you hear?”

I took the sandwich he made and began eating. Dad put the plate down. Sitting back in the chair, he rubbed a hand down his face and wearily sighed.

“I’m sorry, Elijah. I’m so damn sorry for so damn much. You deserve better. From her and from me.”

I stopped chewing. “Do not lump yourself in with her.”

Dad sacrificed everything for me. He lost so much because of me. There would never be enough I could do or say that could express how much his love and support meant.

“How are you feeling? Tired?” he asked, switching to parent mode.

“Okay, and a little.”

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