Page 168 of Scatter the Bones

“Yup.” He dips his chin. “On her.”

Murphy taps his fist against my shoulder and follows Rooster out.

I cock my head at Wrath. “Guess that makes you the lucky bastard helping me into my shorts.”

“For fuck’s sake,” he groans, but he’s already holding them out, letting me use his shoulder for balance and keeping his cranky jokes to himself.

I wiggle my feet into the fucking Crocs and shuffle into the hallway.

Not bad. I can put weight on it. Doesn’t burn as much now. There’s a tug-and-pull sensation, but it’s tolerable.

At the staircase, I stop, grip the banister, and stare at the long road ahead.

“All the way to the third floor, huh?” Wrath asks, resting a hand on my shoulder.

“Yup.”

“All right. We’ve got this. Slow and steady.”

Wrath slipping into encouraging cheerleader mode is almost the most unnerving thing about tonight.

Wrath hooks an arm around my waist and jerks me to his side.

“Lean on me,” he grunts.

I drape my arm over his shoulders, careful not to twist the wrong way. “You know, this might be easier if you carried me up bridal-style.” I fight to keep a grin off my face.

“It’d be easiest to leave you outside in the parking lot.” He nods. “Let’s go. One at time.”

We take the stairs slow. My leg throbs with every step, but Wrath’s bulk makes a solid wall to lean against and he’s surprisingly patient.

Not sure if I’m grateful for the help or annoyed for needing it.

“Awww, you two are the cutest,” Murphy snarks from below.

I pause at the second-floor landing, catching my breath.

Murphy jogs up the stairs like he’s Rocky, just to show off.

“Careful, ginger, or I’m gonna toss you right back down those stairs,” Wrath warns.

“Wouldn’t it be easier if you carried him?” Murphy grins and holds out his arms like he’s cradling a baby.

Wrath shoves his shoulder, sending him ahead of us.

“No playing on the stairs,” Margot calls out from below.

Behind her, Rooster’s laughing.

She hurries up to meet us. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah.” I gesture between Wrath and Murphy. “They were deciding who’s going to carry me the rest of the way.”

She snorts and crouches beside me, gently lifting the leg of my shorts to check the bandage. “So far, so good. But I grabbed extra supplies in case you pop a stitch.”

“Thanks.” I wave toward the stairs. “Can everyone else move ahead instead of gawking at me?”

Margot trails her fingers against the back of my knee, just a second, but it sends a pleasurable shiver over my skin, motivating me to move my ass.

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