Page 60 of With a Broken Wing
He gripped my chin and pressed his lips to mine. “As much as I would rather stay in this bed with you all day and ravage you for every second I’ve been without you over the last two weeks, you need to eat something.” He kissed me again and crawled out of the bed.
I whined, dropping my head back to the pillow and pulling the T-shirt he had dressed me in up to expose my abdomen. “But I’ve missed you.” He followed my fingers with his eyes.
He knelt on the bed next to me. “I’ve missed you too, and later I’m going to take you to dinner and try this birthday thing again. Then after, I’m going to really show youhowmuch I’ve missed you.” I shivered, a wet heat settling in my core in anticipation. “Now get up before I carry you out there.”
“Fine,” I grumbled. I slid to the side of the mattress, pulling myself upright.
Demetri grabbed my hand, tugging me to his chest. He held my face and kissed me long enough to make my shoulders relax. With my hand still tightly grasped in his, we walked into the kitchen.
Jules and William sat cuddled together at the table, drinking their coffee and speaking to each other in low voices. Demetri cleared his throat, drawing both sets of eyes to us. My best friend grinned, her gaze lingering on my fingers laced with his.
She jumped up from the table, nearly tackling me before I could open my arms to catch her. “I’m so glad you’re okay,” she whispered, not letting go. “Youareokay, right?” Her voice shook, threatening to break. Tears welled in her eyes.
I nodded. “I’m okay.” I wanted to apologize, but I owed her more than a basic apology. She deserved an explanation, even though I knew Auston had probably filled her in on everything before she brought me to Chicago. After keeping my story a secret and not sharing it with anyone but Auston and a therapist, I was going to have to share it with Jules and Katie myself. I needed coffee first, though.
“Who am I kidding? I know you’re okay now. Just look at you. You’re inlove!” Demetri and William both rolled their eyes as Demetri sat down. “I mean, neither of you is denying it,” she said, dropping into her chair with a shrug. “I told you so.” She mumbled the last part under her breath and Demetri grumbled.
I laughed, going for the full pot of coffee. The sweet smell of the steam wafted towards my nose, and I inhaled. It smelled like being awake—something I hadn’t done much of the last couple of weeks.
Pouring creamer into the cup, I spun back to face the table. Dark-brown eyes were fixed on me, and I don’t think he heard anything William was saying to him. He lifted an eyebrow, and when he smirked, my heart did a somersault in my chest.
“So you guys are good?” Jules nudged me, both of her elbows resting on the table.
I moved to join them, dragging the chair next to Demetri away from the table. “Yeah, we’re good,” he said, grabbing my wrist and pulling me into his lap. He nuzzled my neck, and I released a breathy giggle.
“I knew you would end up together!”
“Jules!” I said, shooting her a look and bringing my cup to my mouth. Was that her intention when she convinced him to hire me? She would never let me live it down if it was. You could guarantee she’d remind us of it every year on our anniversary.
Before the warm liquid touched my lips, the mug was taken from my hands. Demetri took a long sip of my coffee. “Hey, that wasmine.” I curled my lip in a pout.
“No, sunshine. You get breakfast and water, andthenyou can have your coffee back.”
I glared at him, but I leaned forward and grabbed an apple from the bowl on the table, grinding my hips against him when I sat back. He narrowed his eyes, watching as I took a bite of the apple and snatched my coffee back from him.
“Happy now?” I took a gulp of the coffee.
“I will be when you drink water.” He smirked. “Nowbehave,” he said in a lowered voice, grabbing my hips and holding them still.
I giggled, resting my back against his chest. He put his arms around my waist, and I sighed comfortably. “Yes, sir,” I whispered, turning my head to kiss his cheek. I giggled when he growled.
“I’m really sorry,you guys. I should’ve told you all of this a long time ago,” I said, looking back and forth between Jules and Katie. They looked at me with sadness in their eyes.
Katie put her hand across my shoulder, and I rested my head on hers. “Why didn’t you?” she asked.
“Because of that look you’re giving me right now,” I said, holding my head upright. “People look at someone with a traumatic past with pity, and you guys thought I was so confident and happy that I didn’t want to change your mind. I had real friends for the first time.”
She blinked a lot in an effort to chase away the tears that lined her eyes, but I saw them. It was okay, though. I knew that they would look at me this way. “We love you, Andy,” Jules said, folding her body over mine and pushing me against Katie until we were in a pile on the couch.
“I love you two more than anything.” I planted a kiss on both of their cheeks before they sat up.
“Yeah, speaking of love… you and Demetri?” Katie raised her eyebrow expectantly. “When? How? I mean, obviously I knew when you wouldn’t get out of bed for two weeks, but now that you’re okay, I expect details.” She paused before raising her voice. “Why didn’t you tell me?! You’re likein lovein love with him, aren’t you?”
My cheeks warmed with a flush, and I looked around as if to see if anyone was behind me. “I love him. Like more than it feels acceptable to love a person.”
“He loves you too, you know,” Jules said. My stomach fluttered when she said it, and I nodded, remembering the way he told me over and over last night.
Katie rolled her eyes. “I want thedetails.”
