Page 82 of Pretty Broken Wings

There’s another silence. It stretches on so long that I just know she’s watching me. I can feel her gaze on my face. Does she like what she sees?

My cheeks heat.

Shit, she’ll notice. My hands start sweating.

Then, there’s movement, and Raven’s hands are on mine. Her touch sends a jolt of awareness through me, and I struggle to keep my face neutral.

She did it. She trusted me.

I stamp down the way my chest is trying to puff up, then slowly, gently orient my hands on hers till I find her injured one. I can’t see very well, so I accidentally grab beyond her wrist. Sliding my hand down to the joint of her thumb, I can feel the hot swelling. It’s puffy and firm.

“Gonna move it.”

Raven doesn’t respond, but she doesn’t pull away either. Thrills run up my arms. She’s letting me touch her. Gently, I maneuver her thumb upwards. It moves. When I try to press it down into her palm, she hisses, and both hands are on me. Shetries to rip the injured one from my grip, and I feel an uneven prickling of nails. Some are longer than others. I want to snatch her fingers up and pull them to my face to see what the hell is wrong with her nails. I could force it easily, but in a monumental effort, I keep my hands steady. Instead, I ask, “Any numbness?”

There’s a movement. I think Raven is shaking her head, and then she says, “No.”

She probably ripped a tendon. There’s not a ton to do about that without surgery, but at least it moves.

“Okay, I’m gonna wrap it.” I tuck her thumb up to the side of her index finger and begin wrapping. I try not to get distracted by everything that is Raven. I can hear her soft breaths, and I can almost feel her concentration rolling across my skin. It’s a heady feeling, and my hands are sweating more now than before.

I shouldn't let this get to me. Raven doesn’t see me as more than my brother. I look just like the person who hurt her, and with how defensive and angry she is, she’ll probably never be able to get past that.

Suddenly, it’s like a stone sinks in my stomach, weighing me back down to earth. All good feelings are gone, and a coldness creeps through me.

As soon as I’m done wrapping, I let her go. “There’s food in the fridge.”

Raven says nothing. Just waits for me to leave the room. Doing so feels like ripping off velcro.

After I leave her and Buddy alone, I putter around my room. I feel… oddly empty. It’s like I can feel all of Raven’s wild, angry, terrified energy through the wall. She’s like a jolt of adrenaline, all bundled up into a small, angry body.

I don’t sleep a wink. I keep thinking she’s going to come out and need something. Every creak of the floor and hum of the heater has me sitting upright.

I’m up early. I want to make breakfast, but I don’t want everything to be cold by the time she gets up. But what time will she get up?

I shouldn’t care. I should protect myself from more pain.

I’m prepping an egg bake when I hear a car door shut outside. Then another. I peek out the window and see… Who is that? I squint hard at the fuzzy, moving shapes. Is that… Axel? And who the hell is he with? It looks like a woman. They’re walking up to my front door.

Oh no.Oh no. Not while Raven’s here! What is Axel thinking?

I should have been suspicious when he stopped blowing up my phone yesterday. I should have known something was coming.

Darting to the door, I open it before they can knock and wake Raven up.

“You don’t need me to hold your hand.” I can hear the smile in Mom’s voice.

Mom. He broughtMom?

I snap my glare at Axel, and he just laughs softly. “Of course I do, Mom. Thanks for dropping me off.”

“Oh, well, of course. Hey, Gage.” There’s a pause. “Where are your glasses?”

For a second, I can’t answer because I’m thinking about decking Axel right in front of Mom.

“Broke them,” I grit.

“Oh, well, that’s a shame. They’re so expensive.” I can picture Mom’s concerned look and the furrow between her brows.