Save Me(WITSEC #2)(38)

I winced at the bright light. Knox gently brushed my hair back from my temple. “Yup. You’re going to need stitches.”

“I don’t want to go to the hospital,” I said.

“You need to go, baby girl,” Keelan said from where he stood by the bathroom door. The muscles in his jaw clenched as he stared at my temple.

“Alright, let’s get her some shoes and grab her purse,” Knox said to Keelan and the two of them walked out of the bathroom. As soon as they passed the threshold, Colt and Creed barreled their way in.

Colt got to me first. His hands wrapped around the back of my neck and he slammed his lips on mine. “You’re not allowed to do that again,” he said, pulling away. He took in the side of my face with a curse.

I nodded. “I’m sorry.”

He shook his head. “Just don’t shut us out. You are not alone anymore. You suffer, we suffer.”

“Okay,” I said.

Keelan returned with a pair of sandals from my closet. As he handed them to Creed, his eyes met mine. “How would you feel about staying with us for a few days?”

“I think that’s a good idea,” Creed said and the three of them looked at me expectantly.

I had a knee-jerk reaction to say no. I had become so used to running away—not wanting them to see me continue to make poor decisions. “I’ll need to pack some stuff.”

“I can do that for you,” Keelan said, backing out of the bathroom.

“She’ll want her Batman pajamas. They’re her favorite,” Creed told Keelan before he could get too far. “She loves to wear dresses and she has a pile of new hair tie things on her dresser. You’ll need to pack all of them because she loses them left and right. I swear I found, like, six of them in my truck yesterday.”

Colt snorted. “She keeps a stash of them in my locker and I’ve lost count of how many I’ve found in my car.”

If it weren’t stupidly hot here all the time, I wouldn’t feel the need to constantly put my hair up. I almost smiled. Creed was right…about everything. I loved my Batman PJs. I’d worn them the morning I’d first made him breakfast. I thought that was why I favored them. Every time I saw them, I thought of him. And I did love to wear dresses. They made me feel pretty and they were a lot more comfortable to wear in the heat.

Keelan looked at Creed. “Do you want to help me pack?”

Creed handed my sandals to Colt and left with Keelan. Colt pushed my hair off my shoulder. His eyes followed the trail of dried blood down the side of my face to the top of my green shirt. “Let’s get you cleaned up a little before we go.”





14





I ended up with four stitches along my hairline by my temple. The only plus side was the fact I could hide my Frankenstein look with my hair and the drugs they gave me at the hospital. Colt had held my hand the entire time while Keelan had praised me, calling me a “total badass” because I hadn’t even flinched when the doctor had started sewing me up.

During the drive home, the pain meds fully kicked in and were making me really sleepy. I could feel the guys watching me as my eyes repeatedly slid closed and I startled awake a minute later. None of them suggested I sleep. They didn’t utter a word until we arrived back home. They all climbed out of Keelan’s Jeep with ease. My movements were sluggish and it took me longer than it should have to get my seat belt off. Knox opened my door and scooped me up. Keelan got their front door opened and Knox carried me in. Without stopping, he took me to his room and laid me on the bed. I kicked off my sandals, letting them drop off the side of the bed to the floor, and curled up on my side.

“I get that this is what’s best for her, but tomorrow, I want you to tell me what you said or did to help her sleep,” I heard Creed say from the hall in a low voice.

“I’ll tell you everything in the morning,” Knox whispered, irritation riding his voice. “Until then, keep your jealousy under wraps. She doesn’t need that right now.”

“I’m not jealous. I’m worried about her,” Creed whispered back. “Don’t lead her on only to pull away because you think it’s for the best.”

“I won’t,” Knox said.

“I’m serious, Knox,” Creed said, not bothering to be quiet anymore.

“Enough,” Keelan said. “Let’s call it a night. Colt, Creed, go to bed. You have school in the morning and it’s late.”

I could hear Creed grumbling as he moved down the hall. Someone touched me on my shoulder, and I opened my eyes. Keelan was standing next to the bed with the bag he’d packed for me. “Here’s your stuff if you want to change into your pajamas.”

I nodded and sat up. Keelan set my bag on the bed and left the room. I unzipped it and pulled out my Batman PJs. I hung my feet off the side of the bed with a sigh. I was dreading the walk to the bathroom. Glancing over my shoulder, I saw Knox standing on the other side of the bed, watching me.

“Don’t look,” I said tiredly and pulled my shirt over my head.

“You’re supposed to give me time to turn around,” he grumbled.

All he could see was my back. My bare back, because I wasn’t wearing a bra. I hadn’t had one on since I’d taken it off to nap with him earlier. “I’m too tired to care,” I said as I pulled my pajama top on. I lay back in the bed as I had done earlier and took my shorts off. I just kicked them to the floor and then put my Batman bottoms on. After I was changed, I dropped my bag on the floor and climbed under the blankets.