Chapter 36
Thirty-Six
LULU
“Just a little more,” Cheryl croons to Scarlett, who is no longer whimpering, but the tears still spill down her cheeks. She’s clinging to my hands, and we stopped chatting about ten minutes ago.
She just couldn’t think anymore.
I suspect she’s disassociated herself from it all, and I totally understand where she is. I’ve been there myself.
It’s the only way to get through the pain.
Suddenly, the door is pushed open, and Luke runs in, his face a mask of fear and fury. He glances at her back, and his jaw clenches as he walks in front of her. I scoot aside so he can squat in front of Scarlett.
“Oh, baby.” He gently frames her face in his huge hands and brushes his thumbs back and forth on her cheeks, wiping the tears away. “Scar? I’m here.”
She blinks, and when her eyes find Luke’s, her face crumples again, and she leans into him.
“Shh, I’m right here. I’m so sorry.”
Scarlett fists her hands in his shirt and clings to him as he brushes his hands up and down her arms.
“We’re done cleaning you up,” Dr. Asgood says with a sigh as she takes her gloves off and tosses them in the trash. “You’ll need to have them cleaned once a day. They should heal within a few weeks, but if you have questions or concerns, just call me. Luke has my number.”
“Okay,” Scarlett whispers, then turns her gaze up to Luke. “Will you please drive me home?”
“You’re staying with me,” he informs her and kisses her so tenderly on the forehead, I almost feel like I’m intruding. “You’re going upstairs to my place, baby.”
Scarlett sighs in relief as Luke turns to me.
“I have to go to work for a bit,” he informs me. “But will you please go with her?”
“Of course. I’m stuck to her like glue.” I glance at Michael. “Will you go with us up to Luke’s apartment?”
Michael nods.
“I’ve got her,” I say to Luke, who obviously doesn’t want to let go of Scarlett. His face is full of misery, and I feel awful for both of them.
“You’re safe,” he croons against the top of her head. “I’m sorry, baby.”
“I’ll be okay.” Scarlett smiles up at Luke, putting on a brave face. “Thanks for letting me crash at your place. I’ll head home tomorrow.”
“No.” He kisses her tenderly. “You won’t. You’re with me now. We’ll talk about it later, babe.”
Luke walks us to the elevator and makes sure we’re safely inside with Michael. As the doors close, he winks at Scarlett.
The ride up only takes a few seconds, and then Scarlett leads us to the second door on the right. She punches in a code—I didn’t know she had the code to his door—then pushes inside, and I follow her.
“I’ll be right outside,” Michael assures us before closing the door behind him.
Luke’s apartment is not what I was expecting. It’s big and bright, with cozy furniture and amazing artwork. Lots of blues and grays fill the space, making me wonder if he did this himself or hired a decorator.
“I can’t lie on my back,” Scarlett chokes out. “And I don’t know why I can’t stop crying.”
“Because you were scared, and it fucking hurts.” I take her hand and link our fingers. “You can sit on the couch, with your shoulder against the back for support, and I’ll rig up some pillows for you to lean on in the front so you can drift off.”
She bites her lip and nods. “Thank you. I’ll be better tomorrow.”
“I think you’re doing great now. But I need to know that this is where you want to be. If you want to come up and stay with me in the penthouse, I’ll take you up there right now.”
“No, this is perfect.” She squeezes my hand and smiles softly. “I feel safe with Luke. And something is starting between us.”
“Well, I can see that for myself. He was so swoony back there. He cares about you a lot.”
“You don’t think it’s just about the sex?”
“No way.” I shake my head as I arrange cushions and pillows on the couch. “He was so mad and worried. His face just about broke my heart. And he calls you Scar!”
“It’s kind of cute,” she agrees with a soft smile. “Almost as cute as firefly.”
“I still have no idea why Rome calls me that. He’s done it since the very beginning. I asked him, but he wouldn’t say.”
“Well, whenever he tells you, I want to know, too.” She winces as she tries to settle herself onto the couch. When she leans forward on the cushion I stole from a nearby chair, her eyebrows climb in surprise. “Hey, this is comfy. How did you know to do this?”
“My dad used to like to dislocate my shoulder.” Her jaw drops, and I shrug. “I got good at figuring out ways to get comfortable. Hopefully, this is the last time either of us has to do this.”
“I hope you’re right,” she says with a deep sigh.
“Are you still hurting? I can give you something.” The doctor sent us away with some oral pain meds, but Scarlett shakes her head.
“No, I won’t do anything stronger than ibuprofen. I have a sister who’s addicted to pain meds, and I refuse to go down that road.”
I sigh as I sit next to her and lean my head back against the couch.
“Oh shit!” I sit up straight, startling her. “I never told Rita I’m not returning for my shift.”
“I’m quite sure she knew when she saw Rome carry me out of the playroom with you right next to me,” Scarlett says.
“I didn’t even notice that,” I confess. “I was too busy worrying about you.”
Scarlett reaches over and tucks my hair behind my ear. “You’re a good friend. Lulu.”
“So are you. I wonder what our guys are doing right now?” Rome mentioned something about the cell, but I have no idea what that is.
She bites her lip. “We probably don’t want to know.”