Page 81 of Pretty Broken Wings

I stiffen, and my heartbeat stutters. I didn’t think about Axel trying to track me down. But of course, he would. It makes total sense.

“Well, I’m not… I can’t stay…” I look around. I can’t stay here.

Buddy whines from her place on the couch, tail thumping. I didn’t tell Gage she hopped up there, but I’m sure he heard it.

I don’t want to spend my money on a hotel if I’m staying here to get another payment tomorrow. Plus, what’s to say Axel won’t find me there too? Probably owns half of them anyway.

I hate my life.

Slowly, I move back to the couch, and for a second, I think I see relief on Gage’s face. Just as quickly, it’s gone.

“I got you shampoo.”

CHAPTER FORTY-FOUR

Having Raven in my house feels like being in a cage with a wild animal. She’s unpredictable, her moods swinging from one end of the spectrum to the other. I never know what she’s going to do next. But there’s an odd sense of familiarity in it. All my animals were like this until they realized I was there to help them.

There’s one thing I won’t back down on, though. I’m going to take care of that damn hand. And I’m going to feed her more so she gains some damn weight.

Okay, so two things.

After Raven’s shower, I knock on the spare bedroom door. There’s a long period of time where I don’t think she’s going to answer, but then I hear her feet on the other side, and it sends an odd relief soaring through me.

The door rips open. “What?”

I hold out a roll of tape. “For your thumb.” Internally, I’m crossing my fingers that she lets me treat it. I don’t want to get pushy with her right now. I will, but it’ll set us back a few steps.

I hold my breath.

Raven huffs, and then there’s an awkward silence. I sense movement as she reaches for my hand.

I pull it back toward my stomach. “Let me show you.” I swallow. “You’re gonna want to wrap it well enough to restrict movement but not so tight that you cut off blood flow.”

There’s a pause, then Raven steps away from the door. I’m not sure if that’s a yes, so I step inside slowly.

Nothing comes hurtling at my head. But I hear Buddy’s heavy breathing.

“Is she on the bed?”

There’s a startled pause, and then Raven says, “Uh, no.”

I’m blind, but I’m not stupid. Raven is a shit liar. It almost makes me want to smile.

No. No smiling. Raven will probably smack it off my face.

And now I’m hard.

“Can I have your hand?”

Silence.

I know this is pushing it for the first night, but knowing she’s in pain and I’m not doing anything to help will bother me more than anything else.

Suddenly, Raven’s right next to me. I hold my breath. Raven stands there, stiff. I’m pretty sure she’s staring daggers at me, but I can smell her—the Fiji shampoo I got for her wrapping both of us up in a glorious, warm fog. I wish I could see her wet hair. I know she’s in my clothes too. I gave her a smaller pair of sweatpants and a shirt so she could wash her clothes. And the knowledge of that kicks in some caveman part of my brain. Raven is inmyclothes. It feels vulnerable, and I guarantee this is the only concept of vulnerability I’ll get.

“Where’s Axel?”

Immediately, I stiffen. Axel. The thought of what he did to her makes anger heat my veins. “Who the fuck knows?” I bark, sharper than I intend. Then, I suck in a breath, softening my voice. “Sorry. I don’t know. He can go fuck himself.”