Page 113 of The Science of Attraction

For fuck’s sake.

Liam spoke without looking up. “Bradley said that you can go home tomorrow if you continue to improve but that you’ll need help.”

“Mmm.” I kissed his hair again. “You know of anyone who might be interested?”

He poked me in the stomach and—“Ow, ow, ow.”

“Oh, fuck, sorry.” Liam looked up with such a horrified look that I laughed, which again pulled on my stitches.

“Ow, ow. Jeeee-sus. Dammit. I can’t do anything without it hurting,” I grumbled.

“Oh, poor baby.” Liam kissed his way up the side of my face. “But I’m sure, given a day or two, we’ll be able to findsomethingto do that doesn’t hurt. You might have to lie very, very still, and let me do all the work, though. Think you can manage that?”

“I’ll give it my best shot.” I grinned, then winced and breathed through another spasm. “But where exactly is this going to happen? Do I even have a home anymore?”

“Well—” Liam slid back a ways so we could see each other better. “It appears that you do, but there are options and many unanswered questions.”

Surprised, I raised a brow. “Really? Do tell.”

His cheeks pinked a little, which was intriguing on such a bossy guy. “Okay, so I did a thing.”

I bit back a smile. “Why doesn’t this surprise me?”

His colour deepened. “I might’ve given a bit of a come-to-Jesus speech in the waiting room before I came in, and now I’m hoping I didn’t overstep the mark.” He winced. “I apologise in advance if I did.”

I waited.

He swallowed hard. “I made it very clear to everyone that it’s your choice where you go, but that I’ll be staying with you, wherever that is, no argument. And there might’ve been a few threats implied about what would happen if your father ever did anything like that to you again, maybe some words about holding him responsible, and others warning him that we were going to be together regardless of what he thought and... well, you get the picture.”

I stared at him. “You said all that?”

He blinked hard. “Yes. Shit, I’m sorry. I should’ve kept my mouth shut but I was just so fucking angry?—”

“Jesus Christ, come closer.”

"No. You’re too?—"

“Shut up.” I fumbled for a grip on his sweatshirt with my good hand, failing dismally. “I love you so fucking hard right now.”

His eyes widened for just a second at my words and then he leaned in and crushed his mouth over mine, shoving his tongue as far down my throat as he could manage. I responded in kind, and for a few, short, furious moments, nothing existed in the world except the two of us kissing... and a fuck load of pain.

It wasn’t long before the pain took over.

“Ow, ow, ow.” I pulled away. “Okay, I give in.” I eased back onto the plastic-covered mattress, screwing my eyes tight against the roaring burn in my shoulder.

“I told you.” Liam got up on one elbow and scowled down at me. “That was entirely your own fault.”

“Yep,” I ground out through clenched teeth. “Doesn’t stop it hurting.”

Liam kissed my cheek gently. “I love you so fucking hard as well, just so you know.”

I opened one eye and considered the serious expression he wore. “Then we’re good, right? We’ve got this.”

Those plump lips curled up in a beautiful smile. “We’re better than good. And yes, we’ve got this.”

Something warm and reassuring wove a thread around my heart. “So, what do we do next?”

Liam rested his head back on my pillow. “Well, Zach has offered us their place to stay, and Gil also offered one of the cottages.”

---