Chapter 46 #2
“Because I’m never wrong,” I say, trying to rile her up. I’d rather have that or her scowling at me, but she only gives me a sad, resigned tilt to her mouth that barely qualifies as a smile.
“They never say it out loud...” She gets a faraway look in her eye. I don’t know if she’ll keep sharing, but I want her to. I want to know more about her, everything about her.
“They’re afraid I’ll get hurt,” she frowns, pointing at the gauze covering part of her eyebrow.
With a deep sigh she pulls me closer, resting her head against my chest. The air freezes in my lungs.
I don’t move a muscle for fear she’ll pull away.
“I almost asked Sammy not to tell them this happened.”
“Maybe if you talk to them?”
“Maybe.” Her hands are on my waist. “It just seems a conversation like that? It should be in person, you know? They won’t be up here until graduation.” She sits up suddenly, holding the side of her head as if letting the pain pass. “How about you?” she asks. “Have you talked to your dad?”
“I have.” He’s made it very clear he doesn’t give a shit what I want.
“Oh.” She lifts her hand to my face. The warm caress across my jaw is unexpected but very much welcome. “I’m sorry,” she says.
She’s been honest with me. Can I be completely honest with her?
“Selena, I—”
“Not princess?” she interrupts, smiling at me in a way that sends my thoughts spinning, my heart racing, and my cock jumping to attention.
“Do you... Should I…?” Holy shit. I clear my throat. “Would you like me to call you that more often?”
We stare at each other and I fucking swear time stops. The thoughtful expression she wears shifts, her eyes light up, and she’s nodding with excitement. Almost instantly, her smile fades. I watch as she brings both hands to her forehead.
“Maybe I shouldn’t do that,” she whispers and I can’t fucking take a breath or form words or help in any way when I see the pain overtake her features. I stand to call someone but she stops me. “I’m okay. My head just hurts.”
I watch helplessly as she takes a couple of slow breaths. Then, her eyes flutter open.
“What can I do?” I whisper because my earlier outburst was unacceptable. Even though I read online that she might experience sensory issues, I forgot to keep my voice down. I’ll make sure she avoids bright lights too.
My hands are wrapped around her arms. I’m not sure when I reached out to touch her, but I’m not letting go until she asks me to.
Selena tilts her head a bit to look up at me. Being this close to her, gazing into her eyes, I feel like I'm unraveling.
“You okay, princess?” I whisper between us and hold my breath. I’ve never willingly given anyone power over me, but she has it already. I wonder if she’s always had it.
“I’m okay,” she replies and her smile is glorious and infectious and fucking perfect.
“Can I kiss you? Unless you—”
“Yes,” she whispers back and I don’t waste any time, leaning down to press my lips to hers.
It’s the softest kiss imaginable. Gentle and slow. When her hands touch my jaw, I run my tongue along the seam of her mouth asking permission to enter.
“What the fuck’s going on here?!”
SELENA
Grayson and I break apart to find Sammy standing at the door, looking mad. Like scary mad. Like wide eyes, furrowed eyebrows, and downturned mouth mad.
“Why were your lips touching my sister!?”
“Who’s making out with Selena?!” Trevor laughs, coming in behind him. “Oh shit! G?!”
“Told you that was his car outside,” Troy adds.
Sammy’s pacing in the small room. "This is a joke, right?" he mutters, glaring from me to Grayson. “You both said nothing was going on!”
Trevor smirks. “Didn’t I say they didn’t hate each other?”
“Yeah, it cost me fifty bucks,” Troy grumbles, looking down at his phone.
“Do you guys mind waiting outside?” I ask.
Trevor looks at me. “Aw Selena, for real? We’re not gonna tell anyone,” he pouts, but Troy shoves him out the door and shuts it behind them.
“So, what is this?” Sammy asks, crossing his arms over his chest, looking so much like Papá that I almost smile. “You two dating or what? Because if you are, you both lied to me!”
“It’s your sister’s call,” Grayson answers looking directly at my brother with an air of confidence I wish I had right now.
Then those blue eyes turn toward me. “This is or isn’t whatever you want,” he says with a thoughtful expression on his face.
That nervous, skittish Grayson that showed up earlier is gone.
Standing next to me with his hands in his pockets, is cool, collected Grayson.
“Selena?”
I don’t know what this is! What we are! How can I give it a name?
“Honestly, I don’t know.” I sigh and shrug helplessly when I look at Sammy. “When I said we weren’t anything, I mean, it was true then.”
“And now?”
“Dude,” I shift on the bed. “That was a weird conversation to have with my brother about my brother’s best friend, you know?! Kind of like the one we’re having right now.”
“Bro, you can tell me anything.” Sammy steps closer and finally smiles. “You don’t have to hide anything from me.”
“I think I was hiding it from me,” I mutter and I don’t dare glance over at Grayson.
Sammy has no such problem, getting right in Grayson’s face. I stand quickly to get between them, a move that turns out to be a mistake.
The room spins and my head throbs. I’m not prepared for my knees buckling, but Grayson’s there to steady me.
“I got you,” he says, lifting me with ease to place me back on the narrow bed.
It feels like someone is drilling inside my head, but even worse is the pain hammering through my skull, it’s almost blinding.
Tears form in my eyes as I cradle my head in my hands, while I try to slow my breaths.
Someone runs out of the room and next thing I know a nurse is checking my vitals.
Sammy and Grayson are by the door. Their voices are low, but I catch some of their conversation.
“You know she’s never had a boyfriend, don’t you?”
Why would Sammy say that?! I want to throw a pillow at him so he can stop talking.
“You know this has to end when you graduate, right?” Sammy mutters. I try to sit up but a wave of nausea hits me and I lay back down.
What does he mean? Why would it have to end? I force my eyes open and manage to glance over at Grayson. He’s glaring at my brother with a look I don’t understand.
The last words they exchange belong to Sammy. “If you hurt her, not only are you dead, but we’re done,” he says and exits the room.