Page 34 of Where We Bloom

My own jaw drops, and I stare at my brother in shock as my chest warms.Why is that so hot?I wish I’d seen that. “Seriously?”

“He’ll have to have surgery on the jaw. The wrist willset fine. And as long as you follow through on pressing charges, he’ll be charged with sexual assault.”

“I’ll definitely press charges against that piece of shit.”

“Good.”

“So Connor beat the hell out of that guy for me?”

Blake grins. “Yep. He told me about it when he called me last night, but I went in to see for myself this morning. That dude is fucked up. Serves him right for drugging and laying his hands on my baby sister.”

Connor did that forme.

I admit, that doesn’t sound like the actions of someone who just wants sex and nothing more. However, he could have been acting out of kindness or obligation. He is an alpha male personality, so perhaps it was his big-brother vibes. Like he’d want someone to do the same for Skyla.

Like if he saw anyone being treated that way, he still would have stepped in.

It doesn’t mean that it was explicitly forme.

“You’re thinking way too hard for someone who feels as shitty as you do.”

“How do you know I feel shitty?”

“You look shitty,” he replies, grinning when I narrow my eyes at him. “You should start feeling better soon, though.”

I already am. Between the food, this IV, and the water I’ve drunk, I’m starting to feel human again. My head isn’t pounding, and the cotton is mostly gone from my mouth.

“I’m sorry you’re spending your day off playing doctor to me.”

“I don’tplayat being a doctor,” he replies. “And you’re my best girl. Of course, I came to check on you. I have tomorrow off, too.”

“Two days in a row?”

“I know, there was a schedule mix-up. I’m not complaining. It doesn’t happen often.”

“Any plans?”

“Errands, house stuff. The usual. Check on you.”

“I’ll be at work.”

He frowns over at me. “Jesus, Billie, take a day off. Recuperate.”

“I’ll be fine.” I wave him off and set my empty bowl aside, but he shakes his head.

“As your doctor?—”

“You’re not my doctor. That’s not ethical.”

“I want you to stay home. Rest. Lots of fluids and good foods.”

“No.” He starts to argue, but I hold up a hand. “I’ll drink lots of fluids and eat good food, but I’m not staying home.”

I won’t be able to sleep anyway.

Without replying, he takes our empty bowls to the kitchen and loads them into the dishwasher, then returns to me and sits by me on the couch after checking the bag that’s now half empty.

“What are you doing?”

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