Page 239 of The Sidekick

I barely notice when Max’s arms drop from his restraints and his legs shift to cradle me. Trevor cleans us both up with a patience I can’t comprehend. His intensity is now focused on every detail of getting us both comfortable in the bed.

They talk to each other in low voices, Max’s weak and groggy, Trevor’s a strong hum of sound.

I’m shifted to the pillows with my head against Max’s shoulder. He kisses my temple gently and mutters, “You ok?”

“Uh huh,” I slur back. It makes him laugh weakly.

“I love you, Max.”

His chest rises on a shaky breath and his lips return to my temple. His voice trembles as he answers me.

“I love you, too.”

I feel Trevor slide into bed behind me and curl into us until he can reach over me to touch Max.

“Sleep. Both of you.”

Even that is a demand I can’t deny.

Chapter Sixty-Three

Tera

The next morning is rough.

Trevor overdid it and is in a lot of pain. I flounder, trying to keep to myself as he grinds his teeth and tries to hide it. I feel helpless the entire time.

Max doesn’t show him any mercy either. It’s like he takes control and Trevor hates it as much as he needs it.

I read up on what to do from the couch as Max and Trevor snarl at each other in the bedroom. I’m starting to freak out and I don’t want to add that to the pressure already building in there.

I do my breathing exercises and study up. Unfortunately the only things I can find is ibuprofen, elevating, and heating pads as relief. That’s the same thing I want to do for my sore nether regions. Last night was amazing but the effects this morning are giving me a little pause.

“Ok, I can do this.” I mutter, trying to shore myself up.

I find a bottle of medicine in the bathroom. Trevor is refusing to take the stronger medication which is part of Max’s problem. I find a heating pad in the bathroom under the sink and steal a pillow off the spare bed. I pile it all together with a glass of water and knock at the door before I leave it all and run into the spare room, slamming the door shut. I wince at the loud sound.

“Tera?” Max calls, sounding worried.

“I’m good!” I call back while I pace. I don’t know what happens after that. I can hear them talking, not yelling anymore. That’s a step in the right direction. I use that time to text Asher, missing his easy morning care already.

It’s a little dumb because I just told both of them I loved them last night and now I’m hiding.

My thumbs hover over the tiny letters on my phone. I want to text Asher that I love him too but I don’t at the same time. It feels like cheating just typing it out and hoping for it to go through. Plus I don’t want him to see it and say no thanks. He’d finally run for his life.

“Ugh,” I drop the phone onto the side table and start pacing again. Everything seems messed up this morning.

A light drumming of fingers comes from the door before Max pokes his head in with a smile.

“Good morning,” he says as if he hasn’t been through an epic battle since five thirty. It’s been an hour of nonstop arguments. It woke me up and I slid out of bed like it was oiled so I could escape without anyone noticing. All my clothes are still in there. I made a toga out of a bed sheet so that I’d have some sort of covering between my skin and harsh words.

“Hi,” I whisper faintly and try to give him a smile.

“He’s asking for you.”

“No,” I shake my head adamantly as my hand goes to my throat.

Max blinks in surprise and steps inside to close the door softly behind him.

---