Page 55 of Explorer’s Revenge

FORTY-SEVEN

MAEVE

“ C an you pass me a towel?” I yell through the door. I forgot to bring one in here. I’m supposed to be careful when I’m in the shower, but I needed one so badly, I rushed to get under the hot spray. “Hello?” I call again, peeking through the cracked door.

Aiyaret appears. “Maeve, are you okay?”

“Where is everyone?” I frown. They were here when I came in.

“Logan had some tests, so the others went with them. I came back to check on you.”

“Oh, uh, can you pass me a towel? I forgot one,” I admit.

Chuckling, he disappears then passes one through the door.

“Thanks.” I shut the door and dry off before struggling into an oversized shirt and pajama pants.

When I open the door again, I find Aiy waiting for me.

“What kind of test?” I ask as I turn to the mirror.

My leg aches from standing for so long, and I rub it as I wipe the mirror and grimace at my hair.

Fucking Wilder last night didn’t help—well, it helped my mental health and needs, but it made my already dirty hair worse.

I don’t regret it though. I worried I would this morning, but I felt good about it, like it had been a long time coming, and Wilder didn’t seem to feel anything but happiness about it as well.

Rick has been shooting me knowing looks all morning, but no one else has said anything, so either they don’t know or don’t care.

“Just routine stuff. What’s wrong?” he asks, leaning against the doorframe as I sigh at the state of my hair.

“I couldn’t wash my hair,” I reply. “My shoulder . . .” Fingering the greasy locks, I debate shaving my head to make life easier.

“Let me?” he requests so softly, I almost don’t hear it.

“You don’t have to do that,” I murmur, eyes widening.

“I want to.” He smiles sweetly then hurries away. When he returns, he holds another towel. Aiyaret notices my hand on my leg, and he disappears again before coming back with a chair. Placing it before the sink, he pats it. “Sit.”

Grinning, I sit down, and he drapes the towel around my neck, protecting my clothes.

I relax back as he turns on the water and lays my dirty hair in the sink.

After grabbing what he needs, he carefully wets it then lathers shampoo in his hands.

I watch him as he does. He’s leaning into me and doesn’t seem to notice.

He went from someone who recoiled at my touch to this man.

It’s a complete one-eighty, and I’m so proud of him.

Moreover, I like that he is comfortable with my touch.

One of his hands covers my eyebrows, protecting the rest of my face, while the other rinses the shampoo.

My eyes shut as he massages the conditioner in, working out the tangles. I should be embarrassed by the state of my hair, but he doesn’t seem to mind, so neither do I.

When he’s done, he wraps my hair in a towel and helps me sit up. “Thank you.” I smile tenderly.

“Not done yet.”

Turning the chair, he grabs the hair dryer and works on it with a brush, and when he’s done, he grabs a hair tie, braids it, and grins at me in the mirror. “Ta-da, how does that feel?”

“So much better!” I reply, smiling up at him. “How did you learn to do that?”

His face closes down for a moment. “My mom.” He busies himself by cleaning up as I watch him.

I don’t press. If he doesn’t want to share, then he won’t, and I won’t pry.

I’ve learned enough to hate the bitch, but he surprises me when he speaks again.

“She used to get really drunk, and when she did, she couldn’t look after herself.

I learned to do it because I would get hit.

I used to hate touching her even like that, but with you, it was kind of relaxing. I like taking care of you.”

“I like you taking care of me,” I reply. “I never had a mom to do this for me, and my dad wasn’t really the type,” I explain with a smile. “Thank you, Aiy, for taking care of me and for trusting me enough to tell me.”

Stopping behind my chair, he looks down at me as I lean my head back and smile up at him, covering his hands with mine.

He stares at me for a moment, and I worry I said the wrong thing until he blurts, “Can I kiss you?”

“Yes,” I whisper, the response automatic. I slept with Wilder, but maybe I shouldn’t blur things, considering Aiy is dating Way. When he looks at me with so much hope, though, I realize I want him to kiss me.

Leaning down, he kisses me gently, almost hesitantly.

I let him lead, remaining still. His lips move shyly against mine before he grips my chin, tilting my head and kissing me harder.

This time, I kiss him back, and when he doesn’t pull away, I give as good as I get.

Our tongues dance even in this awkward position until a noise has us breaking apart.

“Fuck, sorry!” Rick covers his face as we jump. Whirling, Rick tries to race from the bathroom, but he runs into the partially open door and bounces off it, hitting the floor. He raises his arm, giving us a thumbs-up. “I’m okay. Ignore me. Please continue.”

“Why is it always me?” Rick grumbles, shooting Aiy and me a look. “I think we need a sock on the door policy.”

“Jealous?” Aiyaret asks, and we gawk at him, but he continues eating without a care, wearing a proud smile on his lips. Male satisfaction, I realize.

“Yes,” Logan says, and I spin to find him awake. He fell asleep as soon as he got back from his tests. Hurrying over, I sink into the chair at his bedside, which has quickly become mine. “Kiss me too, Carter.” He smiles loopily.

“I see the new pain meds are working,” I tease as I take his hand and kiss the back of it. “How are you feeling?”

I’ve asked a million times, but I’m worried. He hasn’t broken down since the other night. I know he’s trying to be strong for us, but I hope he’s not forcing himself to be okay.

“I’m fine,” he answers like always. “Stop worrying. Besides, I can get a kickass prosthetic. It’s just another adventure.

” When I stare at him in disbelief, he sighs.

“Yes, I was upset, Carter, and I think I’ll always wonder what could have been, but what’s the point in moping around?

I’m still me. It won’t be easy, but I’m determined to live the best life I can, and that means not sitting around feeling sorry for myself, so if you guys could stop looking at me like you’re waiting for me to break down at any moment, then maybe I could stop acting like it. ”

“You got it, brother,” Wilder murmurs.

“We were supposed to be worried?” Rick teases, but the tightness around his eyes gives him away. “I was just imagining all the robot jokes I could make.”

Way smacks him without even looking, making us chuckle as I lean into Logan’s bed. “Deal, but if you ever do feel like breaking down, we are right here.”

“Fine, I’m upset, show me your boobs.” His grin is sloppy again, and I can’t help but laugh.

“I want to be on whatever you’re on.” I wink.

“You do. It’s good. I feel floaty.” Logan sighs, snuggling deeper into the bed. “What games are we playing tonight? Strip poker? Strip Monopoly?”

“Why do they all involve stripping?” Wilder mutters. “You perv.”

“Hey, a crocodile ate my leg, so I deserve to see some skin, don’t I?”

“He isn’t wrong. Show the man some boobs!” Way comments as he shoves another piece of broccoli in his mouth.

“Fine!” Rick yells dramatically and rips his shirt up, pushing his pecs together and shaking his chest. “Boobs.”

“I meant Carter’s,” Logan grouses. “Nobody wants to see those.”

“I do,” I comment as I give Rick a thumbs-up as he shakes his rack.

“Mine are better,” Wilder remarks impassively. We gape at him, and then his shirt is suddenly up around his neck and he’s flexing his pecs.

“Yours? Check these out.” Still chewing, Way pulls his shirt up and flexes his chest as he wiggles his eyebrows.

“Well, if you can’t beat them . . .” Aiyaret sighs and stands, shyly lifting his shirt and exposing one of his nipples, smiling brightly.

“There are so many nipples out, yet none are the ones I want to see,” Logan whines.

“What the hell is happening in here?” We turn to find Ajax and my dad at the door, looking horrified, and I burst into laughter so hard, I almost piss my pants.

The others went in search of snacks and new games to play, so for once, the room is quiet. Logan is asleep, or so I thought, but his eyes open, locking on me. “You don’t have to watch me all the time, you know.”

“You love it,” I tease, and his smile is slow and sure. The drugs have worn off, and there’s a tightness around his eyes that betrays his pain, but I know he isn’t due for another dose yet. He also admitted he didn’t want to take them often and become dependent.

“Makes up for all the time I used to stare at you,” he murmurs, and I must look confused because he turns his head to face me, his fingers playing with mine. “You had to know I watched you.”

“Why?” I ask.

“Don’t be dumb, Carter, it doesn’t suit you.

I wanted you—always did. You were just so .

. . beautiful. Even when you were covered in mud and climbing mountains and being crazy, I couldn’t look away.

I used to sneak off and watch your videos so the others didn’t know, but then I caught Wilder doing the same thing.

” The wicked smile he gives me as he betrays his brother makes me laugh.

“I never thought I’d have the opportunity to get close to you, never mind have a . . . relationship like this.”

“And what relationship is that?” I tease.

“Whatever one I can have with you. I’m not stupid. I know you want the others too.” His smile is small as he holds my hand, his eyes filled with pain for a moment, so even though I’m uncomfortable, I press to distract him.

“And that doesn’t bother you?” I ask as his thumb rubs back and forth across my knuckles.