Harleigh
Being in the hospital wasn’t somewhere I’d ever expected to enjoy being. They were usually places of such pain and suffering. But spending the day with Nix and our friends was surprisingly nice.
The nurses only disturbed us when necessary, and Michael didn’t make another appearance. And Nix was an impressively quick healer. He wouldn’t be playing football anytime soon, but he was in significantly less pain and moving more freely.
“Thank fuck they’ve gone. I thought they were never going to leave,” he muttered.
“What? I thought you liked having them here.”
“I did, but I like having you all to myself more.” He nuzzled my neck, kissing the skin there.
“Nix…” I breathed. “We can’t, not here.”
“Yeah, I know. I’m not even sure I could… perform right now.” I gawked at him, my cheeks heating, and he grinned. “Fuck, you’re beautiful. I can’t wait to get out of here and—”
The door opened and Michael stood on the threshold again, just as he had yesterday.
My stomach sank.
“Sorry, I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“You’re not,” Nix said. “We were just… talking.”
“Talking, yes, well, I’d hoped to talk to both of you. If that’s okay?”
“Sure, come in.”
I didn’t bother trying to move to one of the chairs. I had nothing to hide.
Not anymore.
“How are you feeling?”
“Good, better. The doctor thinks I can probably get out tomorrow.”
“That’s good news. Have you given any thought as to where you’ll go?”
“Zane and his grandma said I can stay there until Jessa gets out and we figure out something more permanent.”
“I might have a solution.”
“You?” I frowned.
“I made some calls and there’s a triple wide available near your friend Kye’s place, I believe.”
“That’s nice of you and all, Mr. Rowe, but Jessa and I can’t afford—”
“You don’t need to afford it, son. I’d like to buy it for you.”
“The fuck?” Nix paled. “What is this? Like some kind of bribe? I end things with Harleigh and you set me and Jessa up in a new home?”
“No, that’s not… Let’s start again, shall we?” Michael ran a hand down his face. “Neither of you want to return to your father’s trailer, and I’m almost certain you wouldn’t want to move into our house, so I made some calls and found something for you both. The three of you, since I imagine Harleigh will want to stay with you occasionally.”
“I-I don’t understand,” I finally spoke, pushing the words past the giant lump in my throat. “Why would you do this?”
“Because I can. Because I have the money and they don’t. And because I want to help. I want to try and begin fixing my mistakes.”
“I… I don’t know what to say,” I choked out and Nix hugged me tighter into his side.