Chapter 5 ~ #2
"Oh, Sweetheart." Dominic sighs, his eyes stuck on the purple-black bruising that covers a large part of my stomach.
He comes up behind me and puts his hands on my shoulders. I don’t meet anyone’s eyes, focusing entirely on Alec, who kneels in front of me.
"This might hurt a little," he warns me. “I’m going to press certain areas to see if any of them are broken.” I nod quickly, preparing myself.
Mason looks away, so does Maverick. Luc slips his hand into mine.
I try to swallow my groan when Alec presses on a section of my stomach but it's manageable. So is the second.
The third gentle poke has my stomach rolling and I whimper softly as pain blinds me.
"Stop," Mason demands and I blink away tears.
"It's okay, Mase," I reassure him with a shaky voice.
Alec rises, his serious look replaced with guilt.
"There. Where you just pressed." I tell him.
He nods, his eyes flick to the twins then back to me. "You're right. Without a scan, I can see you have at least one broken rib and several bruised. You'll have to take it easy for the next few weeks but it won't fully heal for approximately a month or so."
I nod, expecting this.
"You should also ice it a few times a day, it will help with the pain," Alec tells me.
I don’t bother telling them it’s not my first broken rib. I’d rather not open that can of worms.
"Mase, get her an ice pack from the freezer," Dominic orders, seeing that Mason needs a distraction, the pain back in his eyes.
Alec lowers his voice. "There can be a few complications with broken ribs if you don't go to the hospital," he warns me.
"Trust me, dude, I tried that," Luc jumps in.
"I was going to say," Alec narrows his eyes on Luc before turning back to me, "I know what to look for so you should be okay. Just let me know if there is any pressure or fullness in your chest or pain that extends to your arm or further than your chest."
I nod again and Alec relaxes. Mason comes back in with an ice pack and a tea towel.
Dominic directs me to the couch. I slowly sit down and Mase hands me the wrapped ice pack.
"Thank you, Mase," I say softly and he sits down beside me. Maverick sits down on the other side of me. Dominic and Alec sit on the second couch.
Luc pouts in front of me. I chuckle. "Come here, Luci."
He sits down at my feet and lays his head back against my knees. His blond hair is cut reasonably short but the top is a little longer. It's surfer wavy and incredibly inviting.
I fiddle with my fingers, fighting hard for a few moments while the guys talk about school before giving in to my urge.
I run my hands through his hair and he groans. Content fills those bright moss green eyes as he leans his head back against the couch, tilting up to look at me. He smiles almost lazily, closing his eyes. I laugh softly.
"What's going on over there?" Dominic chuckles.
"Luci's getting his hair played with," Mason says in a sing-song voice, grinning with me.
"Really?" Luc whines, opening his eyes to meet mine.
"You called me a stray," I pout.
Luc's eyes widen. "No, stop." I stick my bottom lip out further, laying it on thick. "Okay, okay, fine!" Luc scowls and faces the front. "That should be a fucking superpower," he mutters.
I laugh and go back to running my fingers through his soft hair, the other hand holding the ice pack against my skin. The position is uncomfortable on my ribs so I try not to move around.
"So, I don't know about anyone else but I'm curious as to how you two met," Maverick announces. The others voice their agreements.
"Well," I look down at Luc. "I'm sure you've noticed a car driving past your house into the bush at odd hours since you've been here."
The guys nod. It dawns on them.
"What was you?" Alec tilts his head to the side.
"Yeah," Luc takes over. "I went for a walk yesterday and ran into Butterfly in a clearing a few hundred metres past the gate."
"You walked a couple hundred metres?!" Alec says exasperatedly.
Luc realises his mistake and smiles sheepishly. "I was bored out of my mind, man."
I stay quiet about the fact that he also climbed a tree.
Alec huffs and Dominic puts his arm on the back of the couch behind him. Alec leans back against his arm.
"Anyway," I get us back on track. "We met yesterday and after I went home…you know what happened. I didn't want to be there when he woke up so, I drove to the clearing."
"I saw you drive through this morning," Dominic rumbles. "You never came back out." His dark eyes capture me.
"Yeah. After you said you saw the car go in, I waited for Rory to come back out and she never did," Luc tells everyone. "I went to check on her and it took a while for her to wake up."
"You were asleep?" Alec confirms, tilting his head in confusion.
"Most nights I'm not in a position to get much sleep. I leave the house early in the mornings and catch a few hours of sleep in the tray of my Hilux before school." I explain and the guys fall silent.
"You said it took Rory a while to wake up?" Alec asks Luc concerned.
"He hit my head against the wall a few times," I say quietly. "I think I have a concussion."
"You didn't tell me that." Luc’s look is imperceptible.
"I'm sorry," I whisper. He turns around and puts a hand on my knee, silently letting me it's okay.
Alec gets up off the other couch and walks around behind me. I lean forward silently so he can inspect my head.
"It's pretty swollen. What makes you think you have a concussion?" Alec asks, removing his hand from where it was gently touching the lump there.
"I was really dizzy at first. Everything was blurry and I kind of passed out. When Luc was trying to wake me up, I was really tired and I couldn't focus on what he was asking me. After that, I felt fine. I have a headache but that's it."
"Was it bleeding?" Alec asks, moving back to the couch.
"It had bled a fair bit by the time I got there," Luc tells him.
"Okay.” Alec focuses his attention back onto me. "I understand you don't want to go to the hospital so we'll just have to keep an eye on you. No other injuries?"
Maverick finally speaks up. "You were limping yesterday."
Everyone grows silent, their eyes falling on me.
"Yeah." I fiddle with the corner of my shirt. "He pushed me the other night and I fell on my hip. It's just bruised."
Alec decides to take me at my word, not making me get up so he can check it out.
Everyone's quiet. No one breaks the silence or tries too. Everyone's lost in their head. My fingers still in Luc's hair. He looks up at me.
"You okay, Butterfly?" He murmurs and I nod slightly. I go back to running my fingers through Luc’s hair because he seems to like it.
"When will J be back?" Mason asks the group.
"He said he'd be back before you guys are home from school," Luc tells him.
"Are you coming tomorrow, Rory?" Alec asks like he already knows my answer.
I look over and meet his hazel eyes—concern lingering in them. "Yes."
"It's okay to have a few days off," Alec tells me.
"I know, it's just…I can't let him win.”
I’m determined to get away from him and passing high school helps. I just hope I make it that far.
It's silent again and I grow tired. I find myself leaning into Maverick. My eyes flutter closed and I yawn.Somebody asks me something but I'm too tired to respond. A southern voice tells them to shut up.
An arm is put around me and I lean in closer. A deep chuckle rings through my ears.
. . .
I don't open my eyes immediately when I feel someone trying to lure me awake.
"Rory," they drawl.
"No." I grumble.
Despite my protests, my eyes flutter open and am met with Dominic's face. He smirks when I just stare at him. "We got dinner if you're hungry."
I look behind him and see a bunch of pizza boxes on the coffee table.
Shit, I must have fallen asleep. I’m far too comfortable around them. This can’t happen.
"Yeah." I rub my eyes, trying to shake off sleep. "What time is it?" I ask the general group.
"Almost seven," someone says roughly from beside me.
I lift my head and realise I've been leaning on Maverick. He’s staring down at me with a stony expression that’s difficult to interpret.
"Sorry," I mumble, sitting up.
"It's fine," Maverick rumbles, sending butterflies through my stomach.
Hush, I tell them.
His eyes flick down and I follow his gaze. I look down and see Mase asleep with his head in my lap, his long legs stretched out along the rest of the couch. He shifts a little as the guys chatter picks up.
I run my fingers through his hair to see if it's as soft and wavy as it looks. It is.
"I was trying to let him sleep as long as possible. I'll wake him." Maverick moves to do that.
"No," I rush out. He just looks at me. "He's fine where he is. Let him sleep," I tell Maverick. He gives me a look of indifference before he shifts his gaze away.
Dominic hands me a plate of pizza.
"Thanks." I smile and he gives me the smallest smile imaginable.
"How's it feeling?" His eyes shift to my stomach.
"Better?" I shrug, kind of unsure. “The ice helped.” He nods and sits down in front of me.
That's when I realise Luc isn't there anymore.
Alec hands Dominic and Maverick a controller then sits down beside Dom.
I eat my pizza and watch the guys some kind of racing game on the TV. After a few rounds, Alec offers me his controller and I politely decline. He doesn't seem fazed and continues his winning streak.
Dominic yells something at the TV and Mason jumps. I run my fingers through his hair and he rolls to face me. He settles down and I continue my movements. I get the sense that someone’s watching me but when I look up, Maverick’s eyes are on the TV.
Luc comes in a few minutes later and gives me a smile when he sees I’m awake. It grows when he sees Mase asleep on me.
My eyes flick up to the clock on the wall. I see the time and it jumps out at me. I can only imagine my father sitting at the table, waiting for me to come in. To punish me for being out so late.
Tears fill my eyes and I barely recognise a hand falling on my leg. I look up and see the concern in Maverick’s features. My eyes cast down to where Mason’s still sleeping soundly.
“Rory?’ Maverick whispers in my ear. I take a couple deep breaths and I close my eyes, squeezing them shut.
Maverick’s hand moves from my leg to grip my hand.
“You’re with us, Rory,” he murmurs quietly. “You’re not there. You will never have to go back there ever again.”
I let his words fill me and I take shaky breaths. Maverick rubs small circles into the top of my head. I open my eyes and he smiles.
“There you are,” he whispers, squeezing my hand.
I give him a weak smile and he puts his arm around me, cocooning me in his warmth. I sigh and lean into him.
“Thanks, Maverick.” I swallow deeply, keeping my gaze on Dom, Luc and Alec in front of me.
“You're safe, Rory. We’ve got you now.” Mav puts his chin on mine, in a comforting embrace.
I’m beginning to believe them. I’m finally safe.