Chapter 7
EMILIO
This sucks. Mas’s all getting laid and shit while I’m here with Helga, the Horrible.
The traitor says they haven’t done anything yet.
But I know that fucker has been making out with her.
He admits to that. Smiling and then looking away.
He’s at least bitten her fat ass. I’m convinced.
It’s the first thing I’d do if I saw it naked.
Bite it and separate those cheeks. Go to town like the fucking starved man I am.
I’ve seen Mas jerking off when she leaves my room. He thinks I’m asleep. I’m not.
Not that I care, cuz I don’t. I’m just jealous that every time I jerk off, it pulls my stomach in. Moves my road rash and hurts like a bitch. But with Sofia around, Mas has been jerking constantly. I’m sick of seeing it. Like he’s fucking bragging or something.
He’s been driving her to and from work ever since that shit went down with her ex. Mas said he’s a shrimp. Skipping way too many leg days. Bro turned up out of nowhere, asking her for money. Worthless piece of shit. Mas put a stop to that. That was a couple of weeks ago now.
Since then, I moved to a regular room. My boys switch off seeing me between classes. Even our parents have chilled out. Only visiting every other day. No parking their asses in the chairs at the edge of my bed, like Mas has.
It’s cool.
He’s been keeping me entertained here. Hitting some workouts when no one’s hustling my ass off to tests or X-rays.
We watch YouTube stunts together. Sometimes baseball.
The Sox are getting their asses handed to them again.
Their hitting sucks, and so many dudes are out injured, it’s no wonder Fenway Park has so many vacant seats right now. Even us die-hard fans are bailing.
Aside from that, we talked about my accident.
Mas is still feeling guilty as hell, even if I’ve told him a thousand fucking times it’s not his fault.
He’s too dumb or stubborn to believe me.
And not that I regret riding my bike. The story is fucking legendary from the texts and calls blowing up my phone.
I’m still waiting for the shit to go viral so I can be famous.
Either way, I’ll have badass scars and stories to tell.
And that dog I missed hitting lived to see another day.
Badass.
Plus, all the peeps coming to visit me. Mas said it’s one of the reasons I got moved out of the ICU. Too many visitors. Sofia said it’s ‘cuz I’m strong and being a good boy. Healing fast or something.
The tape rips, and I holler like she’s skinning me alive. Because she fucking is.
Fucking Helga the Horrible.
“Fuck me! This is assault. Somebody call the cops!”
The mean nurse doesn’t blink. New gauze, more tape, another rip. My ribs bark when I try to roll away. Doesn’t matter. She’s got me pinned like a bug on the sidewalk. Skinning me alive with every wash and dress of my road rash.
“You enjoy this,” I groan, clutching the sheet like it’s a shield. “You wake up excited to torture hot young dudes, huh?”
No answer. Just more gauze. She’s immune to my complaints. Across the room, Massimo’s planted in his usual chair. He hasn’t looked up from his phone in ten minutes. Smiling at the fucking thing.
“Bro,” I hiss, trying to catch his eye. “You see this? Cruel and unusual punishment. You’re supposed to protect me. There are laws and shit against this kind of abuse.”
He exhales through his nose. Doesn’t look up, though.
“Unbelievable. My own twin. Traitor.”
The door creaks open.
My distraction.
My angel. Sofia. Not in scrubs. Tight ass jeans with creases across the middle of her thick thighs. Hoops swinging. She’s not on the clock. Makes her even hotter. She leans on the doorframe for a second, eyes cutting straight to my brother.
“Sofia. Baby. My angel.” I gasp and reach for her while the nurse peels another strip. “Save me from Helga the Horrible.”
“Ay, Nene.” Her gaze flicks to me, not caring. “I thought you were my brave boy, but you’re being dramatic.”
“Dramatic? I’m being flayed alive! Look at this.” I jab at the angry red road rash running from my ribs to my hip. “She doesn’t give a shit. She’s destroying me. I won’t be pretty anymore. Mas, get me plastic surgery.”
Bro finally pockets his phone and stands. Crosses to Sofia like she’s the only person in the room. He doesn’t even look at me. It’s always like this when she gets off her shift. I hate it. Mas said he’s not cutting me out. Feels like he is.
“Really?” I wave my arm. “I’m dying here, and you two are making googly eyes. Can you at least wait until I’m sedated or drugged up?”
The nurse mutters something about pain tolerance and rips another strip. I yelp, slam my head back against the pillow.
“Swear to God, I’m writing Yelp reviews about this hospital. One star. ‘They tried to kill me by waxing my open flesh. Skinning me alive.’”
Sofia’s lips twitch. Almost a smile, but she hides it behind crossing her arms. Mas leans in to say something low.
She elbows him in the chest. He grunts, grins, and doesn’t move.
I’m happy he doesn’t get to kiss her at work.
Happy he doesn’t get what I want. At least not in front of me. Damn traitor.
“Em, we’ve been through this a million times. They have to keep the wounds clean so they don’t get infected, and you get sepsis,” Mas says, finally acknowledging me.
His eyes are glued to her. I groan louder. Forcing her attention back on me and not him. And not his damn logic either. No one wants to hear that shit.
“You know what else is cruel? Physical therapy. They said crutches today. You see my leg?” I yank the blanket back, showing off the cast like a prize.
“I’m supposed to hobble around with this bulky thing while my ribs stab me from the inside.
Mas, you’d better get me a wheelchair with rims. Chrome.
Spinners. Neon green accents to match my bike and car. ”
Massimo rips his eyeballs from our new girlfriend. Flat glaring at me.
“You’re doing PT. You want to look like a little pussy next to me? We won’t look like twins anymore. You’ll look like the after picture of a weight loss ad.”
“Fuck you. After picture . . . That’s what I get? No sympathy? This family sucks.”
Sofia smothers a laugh behind her hand. Hiding those fucking DSLs. I can’t wait to shove my cock between them. That’s all the encouragement I need. I jab my finger at her.
“You. You’re supposed to care. I’m your patient. Where’s the compassion?”
“You were my patient. But now that you’re on the regular floor and heading home tomorrow, you’re fine. That’s compassion.”
Her eyes flick down my chest, then back up. I’ve noticed she’s been doing that a lot when she comes by to get Mas. I think she’s figuring out how we can fuck.
Yeah.
Same twin.
“Sofia, you’re so mean. Why are all the nurses so mean here? I’m adding that to my review too.” I clutch my heart, not being dramatic. Making a point. “Did Mas do this to you? Turned you against me? You only want him now, huh?”
I jut my lip out. Pouting. What else can I do? Everything about my situation sucks. Massimo growls low in his throat. She elbows him again, but her cheeks are warm pink. The nurse finally tapes the last edge down and pats my shoulder, as if that matters. I flop back, sweaty and violated.
“Good job. You earned an extra jello,” Helga the Horrible patronizes me.
“Fuck jello. I’m sick of that shit. Mas, this is bullshit. You people enjoy my suffering,” I whine, because why not?
There’s nothing else to do. I can’t reach my phone to Snap my friends. The television here is shit with only ten channels. Half are bullshit like the hospital channel, some shopping channel, and fucking news. Who watches that shit?
“Walk time,” the mean nurse sings like it’s a fucking song.
Drops the crutches against my bed with a clatter and yanks back my covers. I stare at them like they’re venomous snakes.
“Oh, hell no. You just flayed my ass. My ribs are stabbing my lungs every fucking time I breathe. And my soul is shattered. My traitorous brother doesn’t give a shit. My old nurse is laughing at my ass. And you want me to hop around like a deranged flamingo?”
Massimo ignores me. Sofia shakes her head and rolls her eyes. I do it right back to them.
“I hate this family,” I mutter, grabbing the crutches anyway. “I hope you get food poisoning. I hope wherever you take her, you get the shits. Squishes all in your pants, and she dumps your ass. Takes a car home and leaves you sitting in your shit like a fucking baby.”
“Suck it up, man. Like Sofia told you yesterday, this is only the beginning of a long road.”
Mas’s hand cups her waist. I want to do that. I hate him. I hate her. I hate both of them.
“You guys suck. At least get me a hot home nurse. One that looks like a stripper,” I argue back. “With big titties that hang in my face when she changes the dressing.”
No one responds.
It’s bullshit.
The nurse’s hands are on me as I grunt and groan, moving out of bed.
My gown flaps open in the back. My ass is hanging out.
I don’t give a shit. Let her see how thick and muscular it is.
I got a better ass than most of those girls twerking on TikTok.
I’d show her my skills, but when I tried to show Sofia one time, it hurt like a motherfucker.
Pain shoots all over my fucking body. Instant sweat springs up on my skin.
My head is fucking pounding. I pant like I’m giving birth to a damn baby.
That stupid breathing pattern my angel taught me the first few days in ICU.
Now she’s staring at my twin like he fucking hung the moon. I hate this place.
“Sofia already found a guy to come to the house that—”
“A dude? Fuck that!” I yell, then moan in pain.
The nurse has a hand on my back. Why? The fuck if I know. If I fell, she couldn’t pick me up, no matter how hard she tried.