Chapter Nineteen
I wake up to the smell of coffee. For a moment, I just lay still.
My eyes closed, my body stiff like already in fight or flight.
My comforter feels weighted. The air feels even more stale than normal.
Everything feels off. Rolling onto my back, I’m looking at the way too many water stains littering the ceiling.
Pain shoots from my head to my toes. My left eye is still swollen shut and hot to the touch.
Two nights ago wasn’t a nightmare. Reece had lost his temper over my car, the repairs, the accusation of cheating, and degrading me.
One thing that shocks me is that he hasn’t mentioned the doorbell camera once.
I doubt Gavin cleaned up the mess on the porch before he stormed away last evening.
I assume Reece doesn't know Gavin was here. Thank fuck for that.
I slowly push myself to sit up, the bruises covering my body protesting with every movement.
I start to feel slightly dizzy. Now the smell of bacon frying follows the scent of freshly brewed coffee.
Reece is making me breakfast. This is his cycle after a fight or his harming me in some way. Break, bandage, repeat.
Grabbing the closest hoodie nearby, I brace myself for the surge of pain.
I freeze as I instantly smell sandalwood.
Fuck, this isn't good. This is Gavin’s hoodie from the night he helped me with my car.
Panicking, I rip it off as gently as I can without causing myself too much pain, trying not to aggravate this ache in my ribs.
It still hurts enough to make my eyes water.
I shove his hoodie into my closet. I’ll have to deal with that later.
I grab another sweatshirt out of the closet, it happens to be one of Reece’s old crew neck sweatshirts.
The sleeves are too long and drag against a few of the bruises that have appeared on my arms.
Slowly, I make my way to the kitchen. He has his back to me while he's cooking at the stove. Flipping bacon and scrambling eggs. He seems like he's spaced out. His hair is damp, like he showered recently. Like he wanted to wash the last two nights off before I saw him. Like he could simply wash away what had happened. Hearing my footsteps entering the kitchen, he turns. His face falls. “Oh, Pretty Girl…what are you doing out of bed?” His voice almost sounds practiced. He crosses the kitchen, stopping short like he’ll break me if he touches me. His eyes roam over every exposed part of me. There is no sign that he’s ashamed of what he did.
“Jesus Christ,” he mutters, “How did all of this happen from a fall?” I don’t say anything, I just stare at him. Speechless.
“I’m almost done making breakfast. Why don't you go sit?”
The table is set for two. My favorite mug sits next to my plate.
I move to make my way to my seat. I only listen because I feel so weak.
Reece goes back to the stove and starts loading my plate first. Scrambled eggs with cheese, just how I like them, followed by bacon cooked to perfection, all on sourdough toast. This quiet domestic urgency twists my stomach.
He sets my plate in front of me with both hands like he’s waving a white flag.
“Here, Pretty Girl. You’ll feel better. Eat”
I stare at the food for a long moment. The eggs smell good. The toast is golden and warm. My body wants it, but my chest aches with panic that I can’t swallow down.
Reece sits across from me, picking at his own food just to show he’s eating too, like he’s trying to set the tone. After a moment, he clears his throat. “About the other night…”
I brace. “I don’t know what got into me.
” He shakes his head, staring down at his plate.
“I mixed my meds with something and ended up at that hotel. You know I don’t usually get like that.
” My fingers tighten around my fork. He…
really doesn’t remember… “I can’t believe the wind ripped off the doorbell camera.
The damn thing was expensive.” He thinks the wind ripped it off.
So, he has no idea Gavin was here yesterday.
He has no idea I let the ghost of my past inside. I let my walls down for him.
“I just can’t believe you got this messed up from a fall.” He reaches across the table slowly, giving me time to pull back if I want. His fingers stop inches from mine. “I love you,” he says, voice cracking just enough. “I don’t want to lose you over one bad night. Let me make it right.”
I swallow hard. I’m only sorry I still look like the aftermath. He leans forward, his voice low and soft and dangerous in the way a knife can be sharp and beautiful at the same time. “Just… don’t pull away from me,” he says. “We’re better than that.”
I take a shaky sip of coffee. It’s perfect.
Exactly how I like it. Because Reece never forgets.
His affection is almost too much. “I took today off,” he adds.
“I’m staying home and taking care of you.
Whatever you need! Icepacks, medicine, food!
Anything.” My stomach drops...I don’t want him here all day.
I don’t want to be watched, hovered over, or controlled under the guise of caretaking.
But I nod anyway. It’s safer. Reece relaxes instantly.
“Good. Eat your breakfast. I’ll clean up.
” I look down at my plate, fork hovering.
Reece smiles softly at me like the bruises aren’t even there.
Like, he didn’t put them there. Like this is just another morning.
And the only thing I can think about is that I shouldn’t have made Gavin leave.