Chapter 16
Arlo
When I wake up from my nap, I call Salem. It’s long overdue, but I wanted to wait until my voice was a little more back to normal. It’s still raspy and fucked up, but not so bad that it’ll worry Salem. Or at least, I hope not.
He answers on the third ring.
“Hello?’
“Hey, kid.”
There’s a sharp inhale and then a choked sort of whine. “Arlo. Thank fuck you’re okay.”
I should probably be fussing at him for his potty language, right? That’s, like, the responsible, adult thing to do? But honestly, I couldn’t give a fuck less.
“I’m okay. Are you?”
Jasper presses a kiss to my forehead. “I’m gonna give you some privacy.”
I shake my head. “You don’t have to.”
Fuck, he’s literally signing up to take all three of us into his life and his home. He bought them beds. He enlisted Theo and Hunter’s help to set their rooms up. There’s no way I’d make him leave. Well, not unless Salem asked for it specifically.
“What?” Salem asks.
“Sorry. Was talking to Jasper.”
“I like him.”
Of course he does. Would it be possible to meet Jasper, even over the phone, and not like him? “He’s a good guy,” I say. “I like him too.”
Salem snorts. “Sure. You like him. He told me he was gonna marry you.”
My eyebrows shoot up, and I glance at Jasper. “You told my baby brother you were gonna marry me?”
He nods, a rare pink dusting his cheeks. “I did. I also told you.”
I frown. “I don’t remember that.”
“He said you were pretty messed up on the meds they gave you,” Salem chimes in. “That’s probably why. You know Mom and Dad don’t remember shit when they’re high, either.” Yeah, that proves my exact point. “Not that you’re anything like them,” Salem rushes to assure me.
“I know, kid.” I blow out a breath. “I’m sorry I let you down.”
“Uh… I don’t know if you know this, but you almost died. S’not like you just flaked.”
My heart slams against my ribs. “I know, but still. I was so excited to finally see you.”
“Me too, but it’s all good. I’m just glad you’re okay.”
“I am too, kid.” I sigh.
“Why didn’t you tell me you were dating Jasper? You talked about him, but…”
That makes me laugh because until recently I wasn’t dating Jasper, but I’m not gonna tell my fifteen-year-old brother about my friend-with-benefits. Laughing is the wrong thing to do, though, and I inhale sharply, bringing a hand to my side and holding my ribs. “Fuck,” I breathe.
“What’s wrong?” Salem asks, alarm clear in his voice.
“Can’t be laughing with broken ribs is what’s wrong.”
“You have broken ribs? Jasper said you had burns and smoke inhalation.”
“Yeah, but I’ll be alright,” I say, picking at a thread on the sheet draped over my lap. I can’t think too hard about what might have been or how I could very well be dead right now.
My secrets could have been the end of me. If I hadn’t told Jasper where I was living, would he have run in and broken all the rules to get me out? Would Salem and Nora think I had just abandoned them if he hadn’t been here to save the day? Who knows? The idea alone is almost more than I can take.
There’s a knock on the door, and then it opens, and my doctor walks in.
“Hey, Salem. The doctor is here, so I’ve gotta go, but I’ll text you in a bit, okay?”
“Sounds good. Love you.”
“Love you too, kid.”
I hang up the call, shifting in my bed a little. “Hello.”
Dr. Miles smiles at me, flashing near-perfect teeth. “Hello to you, Mr. Montgomery. Are you ready to get out of this joint?”
“So fucking ready.”
“Perfect.” She turns her attention to Jasper. “You’re taking him home with you, correct?”
Jasper nods. “Sure am.”
“Alright. Let’s go through wound care, issues to keep an eye out for, and your limitations over the next few weeks, and then I’ll get you out of here.”
The car ride fucking sucks.
Every bump rattles my ribs. They were not fucking kidding about those pain meds managing my pain. They sent me home with a script for something stronger than Tylenol, but I really don’t want to take any of it.
“Almost there, baby boy,” Jasper says softly, glancing at me from the corner of his eye.
“I know,” I grit out through clenched teeth as we hit another pothole.
What in the fuck is wrong with this town that all their roads suck ass, and why have I never noticed how bad they are? I guess there’s something about having a fucked-up, broken body that makes a person realize how fucking fucked everything is around you.
I groan without meaning to, and Jasper slows down even more. “I’m sorry. I’m trying to go slow.”
“Jesus, just get us home.”
I press my hand to my ribs, breathing in deeply. Those pain pills are looking better and better by the second.
“You should take something stronger than Tylenol,” Jasper says, almost like he’s read my mind.
I shake my head, gritting my teeth so hard that they creak.
“Baby boy.” Jasper reaches across the truck, catching my hand in his.
The back of it is bruised from the IV, and it’s a little tender to the touch, but it’s nothing like my ribs.
Honestly, my entire body is some level of sore and fucked up.
“There’s a difference between taking medicine that you need and what your parents do. ”
I know that. I also know how many addicts are born from injuries that require medication.
“And what if I take them and become dependant?”
Jasper sighs, rubbing his fingers over mine.
“I don’t want to dismiss your fears because they’re valid.
But the doctor only gave you a week’s supply.
It’s very unlikely that you’ll develop dependence in that time.
Your body needs rest to heal, and you’re not going to get that while you’re in this much pain. ”
He’s not entirely wrong. “Will you make sure I don’t?”
“Will I make sure you don’t what?” Jasper asks, glancing at me.
“If I take them.” I shift in my seat to look at him. “Will you make sure I don’t become dependent? Will you give me the pills when I’m supposed to take them and hide the pill bottle? If I start liking the way they feel too much, will you keep them away from me?”
“If that happens, I’ll flush them straight down the toilet without hesitation. And I’ll definitely give them to you. If that makes you feel better.”
I nod slowly. “Okay. I’ll try it.”
Truly, I just need something. This is fucking miserable. And he’s right. I need to rest and heal. I need to get Salem and Nora. They’ve waited for me long enough.
Jasper breathes a sigh of relief. “I’ll get you one as soon as we get home.”
When we pull into the driveway at home, I let out a breath. Thank fuck, honestly.
“Stay there,” Jasper says, shutting off the truck and jumping down quickly.
I do as he asked, sitting still in my seat. In all reality, I need the breather before I try to walk anyway. That ride almost took me out.
The passenger door opens, and Jasper reaches in, carefully unbuckling my seatbelt.
“I’m gonna carry you inside, alright?”
I nearly sag. “Okay.”
“It might still hurt, but I promise I’ll try to be gentle.”
I believe him. I trust him more than just about anyone, so when he carefully works his arm behind my back and the other under my thighs, then lifts me slowly into his arms, I let my body go slack.
He lifts my dead weight with ease and cradles me against his chest.
He’s smiling as we make our way to the front door.
“What’s the smile for?” I ask, trying to stay still so I don’t irritate any of my achy parts.
“Just thinking.”
“About what?”
Jasper slows his pace, looking down at me with his gorgeous blue eyes. “About how I’m gonna do this again on our wedding day.”
My heart skips a beat. “You were serious about that, huh?”
When we get to the door, Jasper shifts me in his arms, somehow holding me with one arm as he quickly opens the door.
“I’m very serious. I’ve never wanted anything more in my life than to marry you.”
There goes my heart again. At least this time he can’t hear it through the heart monitors.
“Well, you better not think I’m a done deal.”
Jasper laughs. “What do you mean? You don’t want to marry me?”
So fucking much. “Sure, but I think I deserve a little romance every now and then, so you’re gonna have to ask me. And it better be special.”
Kicking the door closed behind us, Jasper carries me straight into his bedroom. “I’ll give you all the romance, baby boy.” He sits me down on his bed. “Let me get you some medicine. I’ll be right back. Gotta go grab it from the truck.”
I glance around the bedroom when Jasper walks out the door. After forcing myself to my feet with a hand braced against the bed, I walk slowly around the room. I’ve been here so many times, but I guess this is my home now. My bedroom. At least, I’m assuming.
I run my fingertips over the top of Jasper’s dresser. It’s some type of fancy wood. It looks expensive and sturdy. I’ve always thought Jasper was too good for me. And the stark difference between the house I’m bringing the kids to versus the house I thought I’d be bringing them home to is wild.
I’m still not sure I’m good enough for Jasper. But he doesn’t think that’s the case. If he did, I wouldn’t be here right now. He had the easiest out in the world when I told him about the kids, and instead of taking it, he doubled down and showed me even more how serious he was about me.
I’m still standing by his dresser when he walks back into the bedroom with a pill in his palm and a glass of water in the other hand.
“Here, baby boy.”
Fuck. Here goes nothing, I guess. I take the pill from him, popping it in my mouth before swallowing it down with a swig of the water.
He takes the glass from me. “Are you okay?”
I nod. “Do you think I could take a—” I stop mid-sentence, realization washing over me.
I got sent home from the hospital in a pair of sweats and a plain t-shirt.
They’re the only clothes I currently own.
I want a shower like nothing else in this world, but I’m not even sure I could take one on my own, and even if I did, I’d have nothing to change into.
“A what?” Jasper prompts.
“A shower,” I finish needlessly. “Doesn’t matter, though. Not sure I could do it alone, and even if I could…” I shrug. “No clothes.”