Nearing the front door of our suite, I steel myself for whatever’s on the other side. I’ll have to work harder on pretending to be okay until this nightmare fades to the past because I won’t let it affect my friends' lives.
It’s destroyed too much already.JASEMila’s grip on my hand tightens as I push the front door open.
I mentioned to everyone we should go on with our regular routines, but I got a hell no to that suggestion.
Fallon, Hana, and Jade were adamant they were not going to hide what happened like a dirty secret, and hearing the girls say that made me feel like shit warmed over. I didn’t mean that we forget. I just wanted to make things easier for Mila.
The instant we step into the suite, Fallon’s there, and her arms wrap around Mila. When I try to pull my hand free from Mila’s, she tightens her hold on me in a death grip.
Fallon pulls back, and her eyes search over Mila. “How do you feel? Shouldn’t you still be in the hospital?”
A smile forms on Mila’s face, but I notice it doesn’t get anywhere near her eyes. “I feel good as new, and I’m ready to catch up on all the school work I’ve missed.”
Moving half her body behind mine, Mila takes hold of my wrist with her other hand. Knowing she feels safe with me makes a feral protective feeling tighten my muscles.
“We have all the assignments ready, and Hunter had his dad’s PA make sure the classes were recorded for you,” Jade says.
Over the past couple of days, Jade has caught onto the fact that Mila doesn’t like being touched, and I see how Jade struggles to hold back from hugging her cousin.
Mila shoots a quick glance in Hunter’s direction. “Thanks, Hunter. The recordings will help a lot.” Her eyes dart over our friends, not really stopping on any of them. “I’m just gonna sleep for a little while. I’ll get started with the school work tonight, so I can catch up as quick as possible.”
I talked with Hunter before I brought Mila home, and we agreed that I’d take care of Mila while he keeps our friends up to date with the progress she’s making so everyone doesn’t bombard her with attention and questions.
The girls are fighting us on that, feeling Mila needs us all, so it’s going to be a rough couple of days to adjust to the new normal.
My eyes meet Hunter’s, and he nods, immediately knowing what I need him to do. “Let’s go grab some lunch, guys.” Glancing at us, he asks, “Should we bring you something from the restaurant?”
I turn my head to Mila and softly ask, “How do you feel about pizza? I miss pizza.”
She lets out a soft chuckle. “Pizza it is.”
“Great,” Hunter says as he wraps his arms around Fallon and Jade’s shoulders, nudging them toward the front door.
Hana hesitates next to us. “I’m glad you’re back, Mila. I know you don’t want us to hover, but I’m here if you need anything.”
Mila’s lips twitch into a smile. “Thanks, my friend. I just need rest. I’ll be back to normal in no time.”
As soon as our friends leave the suite, I pull Mila down the hallway and ask, “Your bedroom or mine?”
She yanks back against my hold, and it has me stopping dead in my tracks and rambling, “Shit, I didn’t mean it that way.”
“Jase, no, I didn’t even think that,” she gasps. Her eyes dart to the floor. “I just don’t want anyone, including you, changing your whole life for me. I’ll stay in my room, and you go to yours. You can’t sleep next to me forever. What will everyone think?”
Hell, yes, I can.
I close the distance between us. “I don’t care what anyone thinks, Mila. Besides, our friends understand, and honestly, even if they didn’t, I still wouldn’t care. You’re all that matters, and you’re still having nightmares. I’m not leaving you alone to face them.”
Mila’s shoulders slump, and a frustrated look crosses her features. “I just don’t want to disrupt your life. You’ve already done so much for me.” Her tongue darts out, nervously wetting her lips. “And I don’t want to get used to depending on you. It won’t be fair.”
Lifting my hand to her chin, I nudge her face up so she’ll look at me as I ask, “To you or to me?”
Giving me a pleading look, she answers, “To you.”
I’ve repeated the same words so many times over the past couple of days, and I’ll keep repeating them until Mila believes them. “I want to be with you, Mila. This is not a chore for me. I worry my ass off when I’m not around you, so please just give me peace of mind and let me take care of you.”