Chapter Twenty-Seven #2
I feel an arm slip around mine as Blake’s voice comes from behind me.
“Come on, get up, Ez.” I take a moment to close my eyes before sitting up, wiping my face on my arm.
I’m not sure how long I lay in Raina’s arms, but it’s almost dark now.
Blake helps me to my feet, positioning himself in front of me.
He rests his hand on my shoulder, gripping it tightly.
I can see he’s on the verge of tears, pressing his lips together and tightening his jaw.
Suddenly, he pulls me in for a hug, being careful not to bump my open wounds.
I hear him sniffle. “I love you, brother.”
I take a moment to accept the embrace, closing my eyes again.
“Yeah, I love you, too,” I reply softly.
Beck walks up next to her brother, gazing at me with puffy eyes from crying.
I feel a wave of guilt wash over me for putting her in this position.
I’ve fought so hard to shield her from my issues, only to end up hurting her again.
I reach out, opening my arms to offer a hug.
She hesitates for a moment, but then leaps into my arms, making me grunt from the pain.
I can feel her soft cries against my chest. Damn it.
My sweet Beck. I nestle my head against her neck, gently rubbing the back of her head.
“I’m so sorry, Beck…Please forgive me,” I whisper.
She shakes her head, barely managing to respond, “Shh. It’s okay.
” I pull her back, looking into her deep, blue eyes.
As I hold her face, I use my thumbs to wipe away her tears.
Her hands grip my forearms as I lean in and place a gentle kiss on her forehead.
I quickly let go, wincing at the pain coursing through me.
“He needs to rest, but I need to dress his wounds first.” I glance back at Raina as she gestures toward the couch.
I don’t protest. I’ve had enough for one day, and I lack the energy to fight back.
I can feel my body shutting down from exhaustion, likely a combination of the alcohol and the trauma I’ve inflicted on myself.
I turn, heading toward the couch, almost stumbling over my own feet.
Blake grabs my arm and walks with me the rest of the way.
I sit down on the edge of it, resting my face in my hands.
Beck walks up with a glass of water in her hand, gesturing for me to drink.
I grab it and guzzle the entire cup. “Do y’all have a first aid kit here? ” Raina asks the twins.
Beck nods, heading toward the double doors.
Blake follows behind her, looking over his shoulder.
“I have some extra clothes in the back,” he says, disappearing through the double doors with Beck.
There’s an unsettling silence as Raina and I wait for them to return.
She stays facing with her back to me. I want to speak, but don’t have the right words just yet.
The twins return together, with Beck carrying the first aid kit we keep in the back and Blake holding some clothing. “I think it’s best if you hang tight and rest until you’re sober,” Blake suggests.
My head is pounding, and there’s no way I’m driving anywhere, especially not up the mountain on my bike.
“I’ll text you when I wake up and feel safe to drive.
” I pat the pockets of my sweats, looking for my phone, but coming up empty.
I glance at the bar, but it’s nowhere in sight.
“Shit, I must have left my phone back at the cabin,” I admit, trying to recall what happened earlier today, but it’s mostly a blur.
“You guys can go, I’ll stay here with him. I can text you, Blake, and keep you updated,” Raina says, rummaging through the first aid kit. Blake nods, glancing over at Beck.
“Alright, y’all don’t be doing no nasty shit, I can see y’all on the cameras.
” Raina and I shake our heads as he and Beck head out the door.
I study her as she pulls a hair tie off her wrist and throws her hair up into a messy bun.
She puts her hands on her hips, staring down at me. She chews on the inside of her cheek.
“We need to get your pants off…well, what’s left of them,” she says dryly.
I scan over my sweats, feeling slightly embarrassed now that I have somewhat come to my senses.
I give a quick nod, hooking my thumbs into the band of my pants.
I hiss as the charred fabric rubs against my open wounds on my leg.
She kneels down in front of me. “Here, let me do it,” Raina instructs.
I move my hands, planting them on the couch.
She grabs the seam and slowly begins pulling them down as I lift myself up.
She moves carefully, doing her best not to rub against my injuries.
“There.” She throws them to the floor beside her.
“At least your boxers are still intact.” A smile creeps on her face, but it doesn’t quite meet her eyes.
I stay quiet, observing her as she inspects all my injuries on my leg and my side.
She lets out a long sigh. “I need a couple of rags,” she requests, meeting my eyes.
“There should be some behind the bar near the sink area.” She gets up and goes behind the bar, locating two rags and getting one damp from the sink. Walking back, she pauses at the bar counter. She picks up the photo of my mom and me. She stares at it for a moment, then looks over to me.
“Who is this?”
I adjust on the couch. “That’s my mom…and me when I was born.”
She smiles down at the picture. “We kind of look alike, well…like our hair—” she admits. I nod my head. “She’s beautiful, Ezra,” she says.
“Yeah…she was.” I wait for her to spot the butterfly on the window, but she doesn’t. Instead, she sets the photo back down.
She walks back and kneels in front of me, gently patting my leg with a damp rag.
I press my lips together, gripping the couch tightly.
Then she pulls out ointment, gauze, and a wrap.
I watch her intently as she applies the ointment and skillfully wraps my leg.
Next, she helps me pull off my shirt, which was still clinging to one shoulder, and starts tending to my side.
I notice her flinch several times as she works on me.
My side is in the worst shape with skin that’s bubbled and oozing in various spots.
I’ve grown numb to it over the years, but I can only imagine how difficult it is for her to see such flayed flesh.
Trying to lighten the mood, despite feeling terrible all over, I smirk and say, “When did you become a doctor?”
Her eyes meet mine for a moment before she rolls them and replies, “Remember, I work at a vet. I’ve had to bandage plenty of cats and dogs.”
I chuckle softly to myself. “Well, I guess next time I get hurt, I can just call you,” I say, my tone light.
Her expression shifts, tightening. She clearly didn’t appreciate that remark, as if I were suggesting I might hurt myself again.
Maybe that wasn’t the best choice of words, especially with her focused on tending to my wounds. I decide to keep quiet for now.
“All done,” she announces, tucking away the leftover supplies into the first aid kit and closing it.
Her gaze meets mine, and I can’t help but get lost in her eyes, reminded of just how beautiful she really is.
My attention drifts to her lips, and an ache forms inside me—I’ve missed those lips.
Slowly, my hand finds its way to her jawline, and she instinctively leans into my palm, eyes shuddering.
My thumb gently runs along her bottom lip.
These tender moments are everything I’ve longed for.
Raina’s eyes snap open, and she quickly stands, brushing off her pants.
“You should get some rest…you really need it,” she says before turning to walk off.
I reach out and grab her hand, drawing her attention.
Her gaze shifts from my grasp to my face, and though her eyes are filled with questions, she keeps them to herself.
“Lay down with me?” I ask, longing for the comfort of her body next to mine.
A bittersweet smile crosses her lips as she nods.
I scoot back to make space, lying down and guiding her to settle beside me on the outside of the couch.
She positions herself on her side, resting her head on my chest. With our hands still intertwined, I run my thumb gently along her palm.
I look down at her as we silently cling to each other’s warmth.
I can hear her take a few deep breaths while she focuses on our intertwined hands.
Glancing back, I realize my knuckles are busted open and stained with dried blood from where I punched the wall earlier.
Raina turns her head and buries it in my chest, a sob breaking free as her body quivers with emotion.
What have I done? I pull her closer, wanting to shield her from the pain.
“Raina...what’s wrong?” I ask, my voice strained.
“W-why did you hurt yourself like this?” she cries, her words coming out in broken fragments.
I look at the injuries I’ve inflicted in just hours.
To see me like this. How must it feel for her or the twins?
I can’t fathom the hurt I’ve caused. “You’re killing me, Ezra.
I-I can’t handle seeing you like this again,” she admits, her voice trembling.
I bite my wounded lip, reopening the small injury that had been slowly healing, and the sharp taste of blood hits my mouth.
I reach over and take her face in my hand, pulling her gaze toward me.
She’s hurt and scared for my sake, and that tears me apart.
Why do I keep ending up hurting the people I love?
I flinch at that thought, rolling it over in my mind.
I try to hold on to it, keeping it buried, unready to confront that truth just yet.
Her freckles glisten with fresh tears. “I’m so sorry I hurt you.
I-I never wanted to cause you pain,” I manage to say, leaning in to gently lick each tear from her cheek.
A quiet gasp escapes her quivering lips. Her eyes dart back and forth between mine. “Promise me you’ll stop…for me?” she pleads.
I want to give her that promise, I want to do right by her, or at least give her this to ease her worried mind.
I know I’m sick and broken, and I have so many things to heal from.
I can’t just shut it off and be the man she deserves; it’s not humanly possible, at least not for me.
My mind is getting fuzzy. I can sense my mind and body wanting to shut down in response to everything that’s occurred.
I focus back on her. I’ll give her a promise, in the only way I can right now.
I lean into her, clashing our lips together.
She doesn’t pull away, yet melts into me.
Our tongues meet yet again, like they’ve searched for one another, destined to meet again.
I groan into her mouth, savoring her touch and the way her tongue moves perfectly with mine.
She pulls my wounded lip into her mouth, and I wince, but it’s a sweet pain.
She swirls her tongue around it, tenderly sucking.
When she finally pulls back, I notice the blood smudged on her lips.
I can’t help but run my thumb along the crimson stain.
She playfully licks my thumb, taking my blood with her.
The sight sends a rush through me. I lean in again, kissing her softly, savoring each gentle movement and how it revives my weary body.
As I pull away, I rest my forehead against hers.
“I’ve missed you so fucking much, Raina. ”
She wipes away a tear. “I’ve missed you, too.” My eyelids start to grow heavy, and I fight to keep them open, wanting to stay locked in her gaze. Before I know it, I drift off, surrendering to sleep without even realizing it.