She gives me a concerned look as I slide a knit hat onto her head.
“I, uhm, I get migraines. Always have. I’m gonna make the room cold and dark. It will help, but the hat works for me, too. The sleep mask thing takes some getting used to, but it’s like a massager for your eyes. If none of this works, I’ll run you a bath.” I get her tucked in, close the curtains, and turn all the lights in the room off except the one by the bed, that one I set the color to red. I make sure there’s water nearby and Dani comes up with tea when she comes by to drop off Ren’s things. I add timers to my phone for her medication and waking her up, and I stay with her until she falls asleep.
Once she’s sleeping, I head straight for the garage, Pongo following right behind me. I can feel the breakdown coming, and if I can’t be in my room, the soundproof gym will work. When the door shuts behind me, I slide down the wall and stare over to the room where I hide my demons. I promise myself once I get Ren past hers; I need to work harder against mine.
I bury my head in Pongo’s fur and let go of everything I’ve held in since I saw Ren on her kitchen floor. I don’t hear the door open, but I recognize the arms that wrap around me as my shoulders shake. I used to wrap around him like this as a kids.
Another, smaller set of arms envelopes me and I recognize them, too.
“I called Jamie and Steve, but I told them not to come over tonight. And to not make a big deal out of it unless Ren’s ready.”
I can’t stop the sobs—I don’t want to—so I just nod.
“We’ll take care of her, Chase. We’ll take care of all of them.” My brother pulls me to him, pressing a kiss to the top of my head as he sniffles back his own tears. “We’re a fucking family, now. Even you, Dani.”
“Shut up, dickhead. You’re ruining the moment.”
CHAPTER22
SLOW HANDS
NIALL HORAN
I’m sitting on a barstool,scrolling through Amazon while Chase cooks. It’s been almost a week, and I haven’t been home since. I’m still afraid to be there. Even here, where I’m safe, I’m still jumpy. Chase pulls down a couple of plates and gives me a wink. He’s been incredible, and he enjoys taking care of me.
“I’m here! Hold your applause, please.” Dani announces as she joins us in the kitchen and drops a small bag in front of me, bowing with a flourish. “Your medicines and tinctures, m’lady. How’s life in the castle treating you, Renny?”
“I don’t have a castle, Dani. Breakfast?” Chase asks, grabbing a third plate when she nods excitedly. Dani only stayed the first night before taking off to Xanders. Living with Devin in the same house became…trying.
“Would it be okay to keep these in the fridge?”
“Sure, what is it?”
“Medication. It needs to stay refrigerated.”
I watch that crease in his forehead deepen at the word medication. He blinks a few times and shakes himself out of the spiral that his mind tried to take him down. Spending more time with Chase means seeing him at his worst and his best, and Pongo has helped me learn Chase’s anxiety tells, too.
“Can I ask, or?”
Dani cackles. “Look, Hollywood. I totally had you put these on her medical forms the other day. All good in the hood. Or the hills? Whatever, you know what I mean.”
“Devin goes by Hollywood, not me, fucker.” He hands her a plate and flips her off. I’ve also witnessed more of the way his friendships work, and realized that some of them are more family than they are friends.
“It’s a shot I have to take once a week. I’ll tell you about it later.”
He’s done nothing but dote on me since the hospital. Twenty variations ofhow are youin bed, a break for sex, and twenty more questions in the kitchen. I don’t mind because he’s not being weird, he’s only being…nice.
“When’s your next shot?”
“Today. I had Dani bring them over so I wouldn’t miss a dose.”
“Okay, well, I’ve finished breakfast, so how about you come over here and show me what to do?”
“Eat it?” Dani snorts a laugh as Chase flips her off again.
“With the shot, fuckface!”
“Chase!” I laugh, shaking my head. “Don’t worry, I’ve been doing this for years. Kind of a one person thing, not two.”
