Chapter 11 #2
“This isn’t the craziest thing that’s happened to me lately,” I say dryly as we walk toward the dorm. “I guess my baseline for freaking out has shifted.”
“Are you sure you’re okay? Or is you being all calm something to worry about?
I read somewhere that it can take a long time to bleed out from internal injuries.
Are you going to drop dead because you’ve slowly been bleeding to death inside this whole time, and that’s why you’re so chill?
I really don’t mean to make this about me right now, but I can’t handle that.
I will literally lose my mind if you die in front of me. ”
“I’m not bleeding out,” I assure her. “And I promise I won’t die in front of you.”
“I’ll hold you to that,” she mutters as we slowly climb the stairs.
“What do you think the odds of it rejecting my card are?” she asks dryly as she watches me tap my ID against the sensor next to the ornate door.
“Zero, because your stepbrother doesn’t make the rules here. And you’re not on our shit list as far as I know, so I’d say the odds are in your favor.”
She taps her ID on the sensor, and the tiny light on the base of it flashes blue, meaning she’s good to go and her entrance has been logged.
“What the fuck?” a deep voice exclaims as soon as we walk through the main doors.
“Hey,” I say to Anthony, another member of the Keepers royalty, as he strides over to us, his entire demeanor tense and predatory. “What’s up?”
“What’s up?” He looks between Eden and me. “Do I need to get the boys and deal with whatever the fuck happened?”
“I wish, but I didn’t see the guy,” I tell him.
“And what happened?” he presses when I don’t elaborate.
“Got jumped. Eden saved me and helped me get home,” I add when he glances at her again.
“You saved him?” He shoots her an impressed look.
“I just scared the guy away,” she stammers, her cheeks flushing pink.
“Are you okay?” He scrutinizes me.
“I’m fine, just a bit roughed up.”
He looks at my temple. “You’re bleeding.”
“It’s just a scrape,” I say dismissively. “Nothing serious.”
He flicks his gaze between Eden and me again. “Let me know if anyone gives either of you trouble for this.” He gives me a pointed look. “And text me if you need anything. Got it?”
“Yeah, thanks.”
He looks between us one more time, then steps aside so we can continue on our way.
“What floor do you live on?” she asks when the main door closes behind him and we’re alone in the lobby.
“Fourth.”
“Tell me you have an elevator because, no offense, but I don’t think you’ll make it without passing out if we have to take the stairs.”
“None taken, and yes, we have one. It’s just over there,” I motion toward it.
We fall silent again as we slowly make our way to the elevator, and I don’t know if it’s the adrenaline wearing off or if my injuries are catching up to me, but I start to feel really strange, like I’m moving underwater while also having random bouts of vertigo as we wait for the elevator doors to open.
The vertigo gets worse as we ride the elevator up to my floor, and that out-of-sync sensation comes back as the elevator comes to a stop.
“Damon?” she asks as the doors slide open. “Are you okay? You’re as white as a ghost.”
“I’m fine,” I mumble, swaying on my feet a bit as tiny spots of silver flicker in my vision.
“Are you sure?” She tightens her grip on me.
“Yeah. Just need to get to my room.”
It takes way more effort than it should, but we make it to my door, where I have to ask her to dig my room key out of my pocket so we can get inside. When we finally do, she brings me over to my bed, and I sink down on it with a groan as she lets go of me.
“You’re not okay,” she says, wringing her hands as I wrap my arm around my middle and bend forward slightly to take some of the pressure off my hurt side as the room spins around me. “Can you text Anthony or someone? You need help, like actual medical attention.”
“I don’t want to bother him,” I say, my voice weak and thready. “And I’m fine. I think it’s just shock. It’ll pass soon.”
“Are you sure?” Her voice filled with distress as she hovers beside me. “I’m not good in emergencies, and I have no idea what to do right now.” She grabs my free hand and squeezes it. “Jesus, you’re freezing. This isn’t normal.”
She’s right. I’m not okay, but I’ve never been good at asking for help, not even when I’m hurt or sick or desperate, and my stubborn ass would rather deal with this alone than involve anyone in the frat and let them see me like this.
“I’m calling the school doc,” she says, but her voice is hesitant as she reaches for her purse.
“Wait,” I say quickly and sit up straight, ignoring the flare of pain that rips through my side at the sudden move.
She watches as I swing my feet up on the bed, then carefully scoot back so I’m leaning against my headboard. “I’m fine,” I tell her when I’m settled. “It’s just shock.”
“People die from shock,” she points out, still looking like she expects me to drop dead at any moment.
“Not this kind of shock,” I assure her. “I’ll be okay in a few minutes.”
“Can I get you anything? Water?”
“Yeah, that would be great. Thanks.” I motion toward my bathroom. “In there.”
She hurries across the room and disappears through the door. I hear the faint sound of water running, and a moment later, she comes out of the bathroom with a tall glass of water in her hand.
“Here.”
I take the glass and drink down about a third of it.
The cool liquid helps my dry throat, and some of that weird, out-of-sync feeling fades.
“Do you have any painkillers or anything?” she asks as I take a few sips.
“I’ve got some good stuff in there.” I point to my night table. “I’ll take something in a bit. I don’t want to pass out on you.”
“I appreciate that,” she says with a wry smile and takes the glass from me and puts it on my night table.
“You look better. Not as pale.” She rests her hand over one of mine.
“Not as cold, either.” Her expression is thoughtful as she brushes my hair back from my forehead with a gentle sweep, then presses the back of her hand against my skin.
“And you don’t seem to be burning up or anything. ”
I give her a weak smile as she steps back. She still looks concerned, but the panic from before is gone.
“What happened?” she asks, perching on the side of my bed.
“I have no idea,” I say truthfully. “I was taking a shortcut coming back from The Crypt, and that guy came out of nowhere. He didn’t say anything, just attacked, and kept attacking when I got away.” I touch my hand to my throat. The skin is tender and feels hot under my turtleneck.
“What’s wrong with your neck?” she asks quickly.
I drop my hand. “Nothing.”
She raises her eyebrow suspiciously. “And you’re sure I won’t see anything if you pull that down?”
“You might see something,” I hedge.
She gives me a look that reminds me of when my little sister gives me attitude to get her way, and I can’t stop the small smile that tilts my lips.
Olivia might only be ten, but she has more sass than most people twice her age, and she knows exactly how to use it to wrap me around her little finger.
“Let me see,” Eden says, and her pointed look tells me she’s not messing around.
Slowly, I pull the neckline of my shirt down.
“Jesus!” she exclaims, leaning closer as she examines my bare throat. “What the fuck happened?”
“That asshole kind of choked me while he was trying to subdue me.” I let go of the material so it flips back up and covers my injured throat.
“Choked you?” She gapes at me. “That’s like, attempted murder.”
“Or he was just trying to get me to stop fighting back,” I say, brushing off her concern.
“If you’re sure,” she says, her expression making it clear that she doesn’t agree with me.
“I’m sure.”
“Maybe you should take your jacket and shirt off.” Her cheeks flush pink. “Not that I’m trying to creep on you or anything,” she blurts. “I just mean that you’ll be more comfortable and won’t have any extra pressure on…” She touches her own throat with her fingertips.
“Yeah, that’s probably a good idea,” I admit.
She gets off the bed as I turn so I’m sitting sideways with my legs hanging over the side of my mattress.
Once I’m settled, I slowly pull off my jacket.
It’s a longer style that goes down to my mid-thigh, so I have to shift and wiggle to get it out from under me, but I already feel better and less restricted when it’s off.
Eden takes it from me and holds it against her chest, and I pull off my black turtleneck in one swift move. She takes it from me as well, but her eyes are locked on my chest and torso as she not so subtly checks me out for a few beats.
I know I look good, and I’ve worked hard for my body.
My natural state is slender and lean, but the many hours I put in the gym and all the lifting I do have given me a broader, more sculpted physique that’s a bitch to maintain, but is more in line with what people consider the ideal male body type.
Being appreciated feels nice, and her attention is a nice ego boost after getting my ass handed to me by whoever the fuck attacked me.
“Sorry,” she mumbles, tearing her gaze from my chest. “Where do you want these?” She holds up my discarded clothes, still not looking at me.
“My desk chair is fine.”
I lean over to undo my boots as she brings my clothes over to my desk, but the ache in my side stops me, and I let out a low groan as I sit back up.
“What’s wrong?” Eden asks, hurrying back over to my bed.
“My side is a bit sore.” I glance down and see that the area between my hipbone and the bottom of my ribs is bright red, and I can already see streaks of a dark blue bruise forming over the inflamed skin.
Thank fuck he missed my ribs, otherwise I’d be in a hell of a lot more pain right now.
“Do you want help?” she asks. “I can take them off for you.”
“It’s fine,” I tell her quickly.