Page 31 of Scars of Anatomy
After football practice I take a quick shower and rush out of the locker room, not wanting to linger and bullshit around with the guys like usual. Instead, I hop in Chase’s truck and drive to Olivia’s house.
When I arrive and throw the truck in Park across the street, its past ten thirty. All the lights in the house are off, so I assume her parents are asleep.
Quietly, I get out of the truck and close the door, then walk around to the back of the house. I look up at her bedroom window and find a light on in her room.
With an annoyed huff, I look at the tree next to her house skeptically, not believing what I’m about to do.
“I thought this shit only happened in movies,” I mutter to myself, struggling to climb the tree.
Finally, I manage to make it to the roof and walk over to her window. I peek inside the room, noticing the lamp bathing the room with a dim, warm glow. I find Olivia at her desk instead of in her bed, her computer screen on, illuminating her face as she stares at it intently.
Sharp and quick, I rap my knuckle on her window. She jumps at the sound, spinning around in her desk chair, her wide eyes locking with mine. Placing a hand on her chest, as if willing her heart to slow down, she scrambles up from her chair and comes over to the window, opening it.
“What are you doing here?” she whisper-shouts, the shock evident on her face.
I reach my hand through her window and place it on her waist, gently moving her out of the way. Contorting my body, I manage to get my large frame through the window and practically tumble into her bedroom.
I shut the window behind me to keep the cold from seeping in and straighten out my clothes before facing her.
I try my best to throw her a stern glare and be mad at her, but it’s nearly impossible when her big brown eyes are looking up at me guiltily.
It also doesn’t help that her hair is thrown up in a messy bun and she’s in her plaid pajama pants and my hoodie, looking so soft and vulnerable.
“Finch.” My voice comes out huskier than I intend it to. I swallow thickly. “Why aren’t you asleep?”
She worries her bottom lip between her teeth, giving a small shrug. “I couldn’t sleep.”
She turns and crosses her room to sit back down in her desk chair, bringing her knees up to her chest. Hugging her arms around her legs, she rests her chin on her knees, looking up at me in a way that makes my heart melt.
I walk over to her, the computer screen catching my eye. I scan the page pulled up and realize it’s one of her med school applications. Leaning in and reaching my arm around her, I grab the mouse and scroll through the application. “Is this what’s been keeping you up?”
“Part of it,” she admits sheepishly, unfolding her legs and turning around to face her computer.
I sigh, minimizing the screen. Sinking to my knees, I swivel her around to face me, placing my hands on her thighs. “Finch, you literally just got home from the hospital. You shouldn’t be worrying about this right now.”
She frowns. More like pouts. “But it’s due in almost four weeks.”
I tuck my lips in, trying to refrain from laughing. “Baby, exactly, you still have four weeks,” I remind her gently.
I watch as her cheeks redden, and she shyly looks away. It’s then I realized I slipped up and called her baby .
She clears her throat, not meeting my gaze. “But between studying for finals, all the extra assignments, teaching Professor Cooper’s lab, tu—”
“Shh,” I cut her off. I frame her face with my hands, her soft cheeks squishing together a bit, making her look utterly adorable. “Finch, you have time. You got this. You could literally fail all of your finals and maintain your 4.0.”
She frowns. “That’s not true, and it’s not like I’m not going to try. Plus, it looks better to submit your applications early.”
“Well, how much of it have you done?” I ask, curious. I’m honestly surprised she hasn’t turned them in already.
“They’re all almost done, I’m just trying to perfect my essays. I’m scared they’re not good enough.”
“Finch,” I sigh, running my hands from her cheeks down to her shoulders. “You are the smartest person I know. Any medical school would be completely stupid not to accept you.”
I watch a hint of a smile tug at her lips.
“How about this, once you feel better, I’ll go over your essays with you and we can get these applications off your plate,” I offer.
She looks at me wearily. “No, it’s okay. The topics are stupid anyway. I’d be embarrassed to have anyone read them.”
“Really? What are the topics?”
She shrugs. “Most of them focus on explaining your biggest life struggles and what shaped you into the person you are today. The typical clichéd and impossibly hard and evasive questions.”
I nod, wishing I could relate to help her more. But since I’m gunning for the NFL, I’m not looking to enter any master’s programs. My college application days are well over. “Well, if you need me, I’m here.”
She gives me a small, appreciative smile. “Thanks, Bronx.”
“Anytime,” I say, standing. I extend my hand to her. “Now let’s get you to bed.”
Reluctantly, she grabs my hand and stands from her chair. I walk her to her bed and flip down the covers, taking off my shoes and crawling in first. She stands at the edge of the bed, looking at me skeptically.
“Come on, Finch. I don’t bite.” I chuckle, patting the space next to me in her queen-size bed.
“You’re staying the night?”
“Probably not the whole night, but just long enough to make sure you actually go to bed.”
“Bronx.” The slight whine in her voice tells me she’s about to argue with me.
“I’m not going anywhere until you get in this bed,” I tell her with finality.
She huffs, jutting out her bottom lip in a disapproving pout. Regardless, she crawls into bed with me, laying her head on my chest.
“Get some rest, Finch,” I say, stroking her hair, her signature vanilla scent surrounding me like a warm blanket.
She snuggles into my chest and closes her eyes. She falls asleep quickly, but I wait an hour to make sure she stays asleep, her breathing deep and even.
Watching her sleep, I realize, is the best fucking thing in the world. She looks so soft and peaceful, and the little snores from her stuffed-up nose are surprisingly adorable.
Reluctantly, when the clock strikes midnight, I slowly move out from under her and crawl out of bed, being extremely careful not to wake her.
I’d stay the night with her in a heartbeat, but I’m not sure how her parents would feel about finding me in her bed the next morning.
I feel like I’m in a really good place with them right now, and I don’t want to fuck that up.
Before I leave I make sure she’s comfortable and situated one last time. Kissing her forehead, I turn off her bedside lamp and slip on my shoes before climbing out the window and heading back to Chase’s truck.