Page 29 of Hard Hearts

For now, it’s all about conservative treatment with rest and physical therapy. While I’m worried about his physical injury, it’s his mental state that’s really putting me on edge. I let myself into his place. I have been staying here for the most part. I go into work, swing by my apartment, and then come here. I want to be as supportive as possible. I haven’t really asked if he wants me around so much, and I don’t plan on giving him the option to tell me not to be.

I'm hoping he's getting better, but it's difficult to tell. His mood is undoubtedly worsening. He's like a bear with a thorn in his paw, and there is nothing I can do to try and get it out.

When I enter his place, his eyes lazily open from his spot on the couch. He's got SportsCenter on, his legs kicked out, resting.There is a bottle of scotch sitting on the coffee table in front of him along with a couple of pizza boxes.

"Kitty cat." A slow smirk forms on his handsome face. There is a slight slur to his words.

"Hey to you too." I make my way over to him, spotting the pill bottles he was prescribed for pain lying on their sides. "How are you feeling?"

"Doesn't matter." He drops his feet, sitting up more.

"It matters." I pick up the pill bottle, opening it. I hate that I quickly count them to see if he's taken more than he should because of the bottle of scotch, but there is only one gone, maybe two since I left early this morning for work.

"Are you counting them?" He snatches them from me and winces at the quick movement. The mood swings lately have been giving me whiplash. I’ve been trying not to take any of it personally. It hasn’t been an easy task. Especially when I’m used to bantering back and forth with him.

“Yeah, I was counting them,” I say truthfully. I know he’s hurting, but I’m not going to apologize for being concerned for his well-being. “I know you’re angry and worried, but you directing it at me isn’t going to change the situation.”

“I’m not directing it at you. You’re the one counting my pills.”

“You’ve been drinking.”

“And I haven’t taken any pills in hours, Mom.” Ouch. I might just make a call to his actual mom. Wouldn't that be a lovely way for the two of us to meet? “It’s not illegal for me to have a couple of drinks.”

“All right.” I’m not going to fight with him. Not when he’s like this, and honestly, it cuts deep. I don’t usually let people in, especially men. Kaden has been so different from the start, but then again, we haven’t known each other long. This could be the real him, and the mask is slipping. The thought alone makes my heart ache. "I wanted to check on you and make sure youhave food." I open one of the pizza boxes and discover that half remains.

I want to say something about the pizza. It's not that I care if he eats all the pizza in the world, but Kaden eats clean. He keeps a pretty strict diet, and it's not about cutting calories. It's about eating a lot of foods filled with the nutrients you need. So I'm told. I'll eat whatever, but I'm also not a million-dollar athlete.

"I'm good. If you don't want pizza, we can order you something else." Kaden holds his hand out to me. I take it. He gives a tug, pulling me down to straddle him. "I missed you." He places a kiss on my neck. "Are you hungry?" he asks, placing another kiss on me.

"Not really." His hands slip under the dress I changed into after working my ass off. I can tell where this is going. Kaden's hard cock presses into my sex.

"How about I eat you?"

"You're healing," I remind him.

"So?" His fingers dip into the front of my panties. I pull my hips back so they slide back out. "You're wet." Kaden brings his fingers to his mouth, sucking them clean.

Yes, I am wet. My body has gotten used to the things Kaden can do to it.

"How about I take care of you?" I shift back more so that I can reach for the string on his sweatpants. His hands grab mine to stop me.

"You don't want to have sex with me?"

"I didn't say that."

"You don’t have to say it. You’re dancing around it.”

"You're healing."

"You mean broken."

"Kaden! You're not broken."

"You were fine fucking me when you were sure I'd still be a star football player."

It's a sucker punch that lands exactly how he intended. I start to get up, but he stops me, gripping my hips. "Let go," I order.

"It's like that now. Right." He lets out a humorless laugh but releases his hold on me. I quickly get to my feet. "Why are you all dolled up tonight?" I'd picked the dress because I thought Kaden might enjoy seeing me in it. It's him, after all, that has let me be more open to embracing all the girly things I've run from my whole life.

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