Wicked Heart (Starcrossed #3)(46)

“A little.” When he presses his fingers against it, I wince.

“You’ll need to ice it. It’ll probably be stiff and sore for a few days.”

I nod. “So this is just a normal night for you guys, huh?”

Liam nods. “Unfortunately. We’re like exhibits in a zoo.”

“Yet another reason I’m glad I’m in theater and not movies. All that attention on a regular basis would freak me out.”

Liam doesn’t say anything to that, but he frowns and crosses his arms over his chest. He stays like that until we pull up outside my apartment building.

“I’m going to help Elissa upstairs, okay?” he says to Angel as he opens the door. “I’ll be right back.”

“Of course. Take your time.” Angel leans over and hugs me. “Take care of yourself, honey. I’ll see you on Monday. If you need anything, let me know.”

She says good-bye to Josh with a quick kiss on the cheek. He blushes and mumbles “Good night” as Liam helps me out of the car.

Liam holds my arm, and after some minor hobbling, I make it to the sidewalk.

Josh watches with concern. “Liam, I can help her upstairs if you want to go.”

Liam waves him away. “I got it.”

Without any more discussion, he scoops me into his arms and follows Josh into the building. Our apartment might only be on the third floor, but I still marvel at how Liam can carry me up all those stairs without breaking a sweat. It’s not normal.

“This really isn’t necessary,” I say, uncomfortable at how right it feels to be in his arms again.

“It is necessary. It’s my fault you got hurt.”

“Actually, the guy who pushed me over looked nothing like you, so—”

“I should have known they’d be there. Taken you out a different way. Protected you.” He shakes his head, angry with himself.

“Liam, it’s okay.”

“No, it’s not.”

“I’ve never seen you angry like that.”

He looks down at me, and his expression relaxes a little. “Those assholes have no right going after you. I signed up for this life. You didn’t. I never wanted you to be a part of it.”

We reach the door and Josh unlocks it, then holds it open for us. “You can put her on the couch. I’ll get an ice pack.”

Liam walks over and lays me gently on the couch, then sits beside me. When Josh hands him the ice pack, he presses it against my hip.

I lie back and watch as he frowns in concentration. “You know, I can do this myself.”

“Quiet. The doctor is working.”

“It takes a medical degree to apply an ice pack, does it?”

He raises an eyebrow. “If you want to do it right.”

“Are you guys okay for a second?” Josh asks as he tugs at his tie. “Because if I don’t get out of this monkey suit, stat, I’m going to lose it.”

I give him a smile. “Go. ‘Doctor Quinn, Medicine Woman’ seems to have things under control.”

Liam nods at Josh. “Damn straight.”

Josh shakes his head and disappears into his room.

Once he’s gone, Liam turns back to me. “You should also elevate this.”

“It’s on my hip. How do you suggest I do that?”

He grabs a pillow from the end of the couch and then pushes a hand beneath my butt. I make a noise as he lifts up my pelvis with one hand and shoves the pillow under it with the other. “Like that.”

“Well, this is elegant,” I say, my chin pressing into my chest while my knees point to the ceiling.

He looks at me for a moment. “You’re making it work. But then again, you’d look good in full traction, so . . .” He smiles at me, and I smile back, and it makes me crazy that I can miss him so painfully even when he’s sitting right beside me.

After a few seconds, his smile fades and he glances at the door. “Well, I’d better get going. Angel is waiting.”

“Yeah.” I want to take his hand, but that’s not how we are now. Instead, I give him a smile. “Thanks for the lift. Both up the stairs and with the pillow.”

“No problem. Next time we go to dinner, I’ll try to make sure my lifestyle doesn’t damage you.” He gives me a final smile, then gets up and heads to the door.

I struggle to stand, and follow him. When he notices, he holds out his hand. “Hey, stop. I can see myself out. Back onto the couch, lady.”

I wave him off. “I’m going to bed. If I have to have my ass in the air, I’m at least going to be in the appropriate setting.”

Oh.

Shit.

Liam’s eyebrows just about disappear into his hairline. “And on that note—”

“Okay. So, ignore that. Wow.”

I put my hand over my face, but he gently takes my wrist and pulls it away. “I love it when you blush around me. Always have. Always will.” I look up at him, and his thumb brushes over my pulse. “You sure you’ll be okay?”

I nod. “I’ve had worse. Once a twenty-pound light fell on my head. I ended up calling the show with a concussion. I’m a tough nut. You should know that.”

“Yeah. I should.” I open the door for him and he steps onto the landing before turning back to me. “You know, apart from the last part, I really enjoyed tonight.”