She nodded. “It’s nice to meet you.” Her eyes turned to me. “What time are we leaving?”
I was surprised by the question, she didn’t seem eager to get going and I could hear the small amount of apprehension in her voice.
“As soon as you’re ready, babe.”
She nodded again. “I’ll have a shower and get dressed.”
Just as she turned to leave, I called out to her. “Harm, you can’t shower. The bandage needs to stay dry.”
Her nose wrinkled. “I forgot. I’ll just get dressed then.” She moved quickly inside before I could say anything more.
“Wow, she sounds real happy about leaving,” Tie said sarcastically.
I sighed. “Yeah, fighting it.”
“You sure it’s the right thing to do then?”
I didn’t need to think before the words left my mouth, “Never been surer in my life.”
I hadn’t slept much during the night. Every time I closed my eyes I felt everything all over again. The strange man’s arms around my body, the gravely road tearing at my skin, the bullet burning through my flesh like a hot knife through butter. I desperately wanted a shower. I needed to wash it all away. But once again Kit was right, I couldn’t get my bandage wet.
Stupid Caleb. I’d get him back for shooting me.
My arm was in a sling, restricting my movement in hopes that I didn’t pull my stitches out. This made it difficult to do anything. I barely got my jeans on before I realized I couldn’t button them. I’d gone in search of Chelsea to help me out, but she wasn’t in her room. A couple of the guys had looked at me like I was crazy when I’d asked them to place their hands next to my crotch.
Thank you, Kit.
I caught a glimmer out of the corner of my eye, the light of the morning bouncing off the strings of my guitar. I stared at it longingly, hoping it wouldn’t be too long before I could play again. I hadn’t gone a day without at least playing one song since I first picked up a guitar at the age of seven. I suddenly felt like I was missing a limb.
I huffed like a spoiled child and lay back on the floor, staring at the ceiling like it was going to give me all the answers to my problem. My clothes were spread all over the floor, I’d put my trainers on, but couldn’t tie the laces and my jeans werestillundone. “I just want a fucking shower,” I cried dramatically.
A chuckle came from the doorway and I looked over to see Leo standing there, filling the whole space with his arms crossed tightly across his chest and a grin the size of freaking China.
“Shut your pie hole, Leo. This is all your fault.”
He laughed again, this time a little louder. “Explain to me how this is my fault, Harmz?”
I pointed at him with my good arm. “If you hadn’t spent so much time training Caleb to fight, and spent a little teaching him how to shoot a gun, then I’d be able to hide my little pudgy tummy behind the button of my jeans. Butno, you didn’t teach him that. So now, he has a shitty aim, I have a hole in my shoulder and my belly is hanging out for everyone to see.”
I sounded hysterical, it was fucking ridiculous. This shit had me twisted up every which way from Sunday. Not being able to do things for myself, feeling like an invalid, and now I was about to leave the club. Things were changing faster than my mind could keep up with them.
Leo moved over, standing with his feet either side of my hips, he reached down to grasp both sides of my jeans. “Suck it in, fatty.” I glared at him but sucked in my stomach as he did up the top two buttons.
“How many of you boys do I have to warn about touching things that don’t belong to you?” Kit’s voice growled from the doorway, but his voice couldn’t cover the small hint of amusement there.
I rolled my eyes and Leo continued to smirk down at me. “Sorry Brother, but I was scared if she didn’t get her pants done up she might have a mental breakdown.”
“Sounds about right.”
Leo grasped my good arm and pulled me from the floor. “Just wanted to say bye. Macy is gonna miss you.”
“I’ll miss her too,” I sighed sadly.
Leo embraced Kit. “Safe trip, Brother.”
Then he was gone.
“You ready?” Kit asked, coming to stand in front of me before dropping to his knees and tying my shoe laces. I almost smiled at the gesture, but my stubborn streak kept the impassive look on my face.