Page 57 of Falling for the Wrong Guy

I held up the frozen peas. “Have a seat and put this on your face. I’ll get the first aid kit for your arm.”

He glanced at the cut on his arm. The blood had mixed with the rain making it look worse than it was, but it was at least two inches long. “I guess I have my coat to thank for not having to sit through getting stitched up.”

I crinkled my nose. “Been there, done that and it’s not pleasant. Got a big gash on my knee when I was roller skating. I fell directly on the bottom railing of a park bench.” He sat down and leaned back. I helped him strategically place the bag of peas on his face.

I hurried to the bathroom and pulled out the small first aid kit I had stashed under the sink. I set it on the coffee table and sat on the side with the cut arm. Dex lifted the peas off his face and stared at me through half closed lids. “You don’t have to do this, Aria.”

“Who else is going to do it? Gus?”

He dropped the bag again. “Gus left me,” he said quietly.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Dex. I know he was your friend. I’m sure he decided it was time to go back to bird life.” I took hold of his hand and gently wiped disinfectant on the cut. Before I released his hand, he squeezed my fingers and held them.

“I know this day started badly, Dex, and I’m sorry?—”

He pulled the peas from his face. The skin was red where the frozen bag had sat. “No, I’m sorry. Those guys came to town?—”

“Those guys, just like the other clowns, happened to end up in my café. I’m not letting you take the blame for that, Dex. Both times you strolled in and saved the day.” I lifted the bag and put it back on his face. “Now, it’s my turn to return the favor. This is the least I can do.” I placed a large square of gauze in the middle of the lion’s face and gently pressed pieces of surgical tape around the edges. “There.” I leaned back to admire my handiwork. “I’m a regular Florence Nightingale.”

He was still holding my hand. Once again, he removed the bag. “A gorgeous one at that. Aria?—”

I shook my head. “We don’t need to discuss this morning or us right now. You’ve had a rough evening. But hey, at least Quinn woke up. That’s so exciting. What were his first …” His face fell. “He didn’t wake up?”

“I made it up so those two would follow me out of the café.”

“You did all that for me.” My voice cracked. His grief was palpable. “Where were you when I texted?” I asked tentatively because I knew.

“I was with Quinn. The doctor told me we needed to prepare for the worst.” He blew out a long, exhausted breath. “I’ve been knocked down many times in life, but I’m not sure when I’ve been knocked down this hard. And I’m no closer to finding those stupid coins.”

“Nonna always had a saying when everything seemed extra bad, like after our mom died and it seemed we’d never laugh or smile again. ‘There’s always light after dark,’ she’d say. She was always right.”

Dex tossed the bag of peas on the coffee table. I sat back and he stretched out, laying his head down on my lap. I combed my fingers through his thick hair. His dark lashes dropped down over his eyes. “This feels so right,” he said quietly, as if only to himself. “Being with you—that’s the light I need.”

I reached to the back of the sofa and dropped my throw blanket over his big shoulders. It was a blanket I could get totally lost in, but it looked like a washcloth lying on top of Dex. His injured arm hung out from under the edge. The lion scowled up at me as if humiliated by the big white gauze.

“I’m never going to figure out that stupid clue Quinn left me with,” he said through a yawn. “Lyin’ talk.” he yawned again. Seconds later, I could feel the tension and all the horrors of the day leave his body, and he fell asleep.

His last words played in my head. “Lyin’ talk.” I sat up straighter but then shrank back. I didn’t want to wake him. He needed his sleep. When he woke up, I had some good news for him. I knew where Quinn hid the coins.

ChapterThirty-Seven

Dex

Ihadn’t had a solid night’s sleep for days, but I woke from a deep sleep, so deep it took me a second to remember where I was. A pillow was tucked under my head, and I was wrapped in a warm throw. Flowery curtains had been pulled shut over the front window. I sat up and rubbed the back of my neck. It was the whiplash effect from getting punched in the face. I dropped my bare feet to the ground. I vaguely remembered helping Aria pull boots from my feet.

Aria stepped out from the hallway, and a breath settled deep in my chest. After the fight and the deep sleep, I could almost convince myself the beautiful vision in front of me was merely an illusion.

“I’ve got to go to work.” She turned into her kitchen. “I filled the coffee maker. You just have to turn it on. When you’re ready to venture out, drop by the café and I’ll make you breakfast.”

“You don’t need to do all that, Aria. You’ve already taken care of my face and my cut.” I lifted my arm. “Oh, Frankie, you don’t look as tough as I thought under all that gauze. Sorry for getting your hopes up with the street cred comment.”

Aria laughed. “That lion has saved the day.”

“I think you’re giving him too much credit.”

“No, really, he saved the day.” She walked over, her face practically bursting with a smile.

“What’s up?” I smoothed my hair back with my hands. “Are you laughing at my bedhead?”

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