Chapter Ten
Milo
I woke up with a gasp. These were not my sheets. And definitely not the fancy hotel Rowan was staying at.
Rowan…
Holding my hand. When I lay on the street.
And now.
I squeezed my fingers around a big, hairy palm. “Rowan?”
“Oh gods, Milo, you’re awake. How are you feeling? What hurts?” His hushed voice was close.
I groaned. My head swam in a dull way. “Too much—”
“Of what? Light in the room? Painkillers?” Rowan sounded panicked, but still kept his tone quiet.
“Too much to take in. Give me a second.”
“Oh. Yes, of course.” Rowan moved away, his chair screeching against the floor. “Fuck, sorry.”
“But don’t let me go.” I blinked at the light which, despite being dimmed, hurt my eyes anyway.
“I won’t, never will. I’m here.” He stroked his thumb over my pulse, sending goosebumps from my wrist up my arm. Was his voice shaking? It sounded deeper than usual. “Just please be okay.”
Unwilling to over-promise, I assessed my body—wiggled my toes, moved my head side to side on the pillow, and took a deep breath.
“My ribs hurt and my head feels like I’m underwater, but other than that I feel fine.”
“The doctor said that you’re bruised, and that you suffered a concussion. You’ll need a few days’ rest to fully recover and someone to watch over you. Ethel told the doct—”
I sat upright, pulling on the IV in my arm, but not hard enough to hurt myself with it. “Ethel! Is she here? Oh no, did the hospital call her? Fuck.” I buried my spinning head in my hands. “I don’t want her to worry.”
“She’s in the waiting room on the sofa. The chairs here were, umm, a pain in her ass, according to her.”
I snorted a laugh and regretted it immediately as my temples pulsed. “Don’t tell her I don’t have insurance; she’ll be pissed. I need to leave the hospital—every day will add another insane amount to my bill.”
“Okay. Let’s see what the doctor says about that.”
“About what?” A tall woman with a long black braid entered the room. “I’m glad you’re awake, Milo. I’m Dr. Frances.” She tilted her head and blinked her eyes sideways. She must be a reptile shifter.
Hopefully, the smile I put on would convince her I could be released quickly. “Thanks. We were talking about me being fine to go home.”
She approached with a click of heels on the floor and looked at the monitors next to me, then at the tablet she was holding.
“If you’re feeling well tomorrow morning, I’ll let you go. You need to stay at least overnight for observation.”
I groaned. “I like sleeping in my own bed.”
“Of course, but you can survive one night here.” She glanced at our linked hands. “Once you’re out, you can’t be alone for a few days. Ethel promised she’ll take care of you, but even though she is at peak health for her age, I would advise against that.”
“I agree. She needs her own rest. She says she can do anything, but she’s over ninety-eight. I’ll figure something out.”
“You can stay at my place,” Rowan said, placing a huge yet gentle palm on my chest. “I can take a few days off and work from home after that if needed.”
A lump formed in my throat. Why was he so good to me? “I don’t want to burden you.”
“I’ll let you discuss it in private. Just don’t strain yourself, Milo, or I’ll have to keep you here longer.”
“Okay. Thank you,” I said.
Dr. Frances left and closed the door with a gentle click.
Rowan scooted closer to me. “I’d love to spend more time with you, and you could get the rest you need.”
I chewed my lip. “I didn’t lie when I said I liked my bed.
Would you stay with me at my house instead?
” Despite hooking up with people after breaking up with Andrew, I’d never invited anyone to my place.
That place was sacred, full of memories of Anabelle and Ethel, and my happy moments with them.
But with his offer, Rowan had proven that he was worth sharing that space with him.
He’d respect that house, I was sure of it.
Even if for a short while, I could indulge in having a boyfriend who cared until he’d leave by the end of next month.
What could go wrong?
“Of course,” Rowan said. “I’ll sleep better knowing you are close and I can help if needed.” He cleared his throat and scratched his beard. Was he getting emotional? “So…Ethel doesn’t look more than seventy. She’s human, right?”
“Yes, but was married to a snake shifter. They were fated mates.” Being a cryptid himself, Rowan understood that when a human had a monster fated mate, their lifespan would be longer.
If both lived healthy, they’d die together, decades after the human’s life would end, but also sooner than the cryptid would live if not bonded to a human with a shorter lifespan.
“Oh. But your great aunt passed away.”
“Yeah. Which means Ethel’s health can deteriorate really quickly now.”
“Or—I need to do some digging, but I’ve read about instances when a mate dies early, the human that remained could sort of inherit their years if there is someone left on this plane with them: children or close relatives.
When they’re ready, they can decide when they’re done and fall into a coma-like sleep until they pass away. ”
I sat upright, but Rowan stopped me halfway with a hand on my chest. Fair.
“So Ethel might live another hundred years?” I squeaked with glee.
“I’m not sure, but I don’t think it can be determined easily. Maybe by scanning to check the speed of her aging. Dr. Frances will know if we ask.”
“I need to do that. Stuff like that should be common knowledge. I hate how much the human system is still the default at schools and hospitals.” I sighed and stepped off my soapbox.
“Ethel misses my auntie, but she is having fun now too when I visit her—” My shoulders slumped.
“That would mean she might see me die of old age. Or if I’m the reason, she’d die when I will. ” My head grew heavy, and I winced.
“Maybe get some rest now, my little coffee bean.” Rowan kissed my palm, then leaned over to place his lips on my temple. “You still smell of French roast.”
His phone vibrated, and he fished it out of his pocket. “It’s my sister.”
“Take it. I’m not going anywhere.” I offered a small smile. “Your little coffee bean.” I giggled and pulled the sheet to my nose.
Rowan’s cheeks pinkened, and he stood up, putting the phone to his ear.
“Hi Riri. Yes, I saw. I liked the lavender more. The green will not go well with my hair…That’s why I’m telling you now…
What did Riley and Ruben say? See? Yes, lavender is common, but everyone will be focused on your black cake, anyway. And on your gorgeous dress.”
Rowan grew quiet, glanced at me, then back to the window. “Maybe. I’m not sure. Yes, there is someone, but—Oh my gods, you’re worse than mom!”
I bit my sheet to stifle my giggles. The big, hairy bigfoot was bickering with his sister like they were kids. It was the most precious thing I’d seen.
“Yes, okay.” He sighed and looked at me again. “I’ll ask him…Love you too, even when you’re a bridezilla.” He hung up and turned the phone in his hand as if it were a playing card.
His hands were so big. His arms so muscled. If I weren’t so woozy, I’d lick him everywhere.
“Uh oh. Are you in trouble?” My grin was so wide my cheeks hurt.
Rowan pointed a finger at me. “I would tickle you. But I’m afraid I’d hurt you.”
“Okay. Save tickles for later.” I made a grabby hand in the air for him. “So you like lavender?”
He returned to his seat next to me. “In this case, yes. It’s about shirts.
My sister was always the most organized of us all.
Which means she had every detail of her wedding planned way ahead, and now she’s re-analyzing everything.
Including the color of the shirts the brides’ mates will be wearing—that’s me and my two siblings.
All three of us are set for the shade we agreed on initially. ”
“You’ll look so handsome in lavender.” I patted his cheek, then let my arm flop back onto the bed. “You’ll have to send me a picture.”
“Actually, Raina asked about you.” Rowan took my hand and held it to his face.
How can he be so big yet so gentle? I melted a little.
“What did I do?” Why would he tell his sister about me?
“Only good things.” He patted my leg through the sheets. “She asked if I would bring you as my plus one.”
In an attempt not to squeal, I took a breath, then released it slowly. “Would you want me at your sister’s wedding?”
“Yeah. It will be a fun party and all the nosy family members would stop harassing me about setting me up with someone. And I wouldn’t have to sit at the singles table.” He said it matter-of-factly, but he wasn’t meeting my gaze.
“We’re not a couple, right?” Even if I want us to be. Wait? Do I? I’m having a good ride with a fuckbuddy and reinstating non-toxic men into my life after getting rid of Andrew. I don’t need a relationship. And Rowan definitely doesn’t want one.
These drugs were making me loopy.
“Hey, hey, don’t panic. It’s okay.” Rowan rubbed the back of my hand. “If you decide to come, you can treat it like a fake date scenario and an occasion to party. But I actually like you, as opposed to finding someone random to pretend to be with me.”
“Mmhmm.” I closed my eyes, then opened them very slowly. My eyelids were heavy. “My last relationship fucked me up, so I can’t do this again. Not for a while. But—” I lifted a finger in the air. “I can be your boyfriend for the wedding. Fake partner, but a real date.”
“Yes. That works for me.”
I frowned. “I don’t have a suit. Well, only the one I wore to Anabelle’s funeral.”
“We’ll find you something you’ll feel comfortable in. If you decide to go, you’ll wow everyone there, you’ll see.”
“Flattery will get you far.” I yawned until my jaw cracked and unlocked a new question. “Waitaminute. How did they let you in here?”
Rowan stiffened and looked at his hand holding mine. “I told the nurses that I’m your fiancé. I had no choice,” he added quickly. “Ethel wasn’t here yet, and I was worried. They made an exception as is, since we’re not married. I’m sorry if that’s weird.”
My grin must have been as loopy as I felt as Rowan relaxed. “You lied to spend time with me. I like it. I wonder how much I can corrupt you until you break.”
Rowan shook his head. “Shh. Sleep now. I’ll stay here and wake you up when Ethel comes over.”
“Okay.” I let my eyes drift shut and my body relax into the hard mattress.
Author’s notes:
Hurt Milo brings all protective instincts out in Rowan. Also, he’s so SOFT (and fluffy).
For those who asked in the comments: I did not lose my job! YAY But several of my friends did, which sucks donkey balls so hard. Seriously, fuck AI.