Page 59 of The Baby Dragon Bakery
“Forget it,” he said, voice low. “I’m fine.”
He stalked away from her, and hurt slashed through her chest. Why was he being so cold? She watched as he went over to where his bag was with the rest of the other players’ things, then she chased after him.
“I said I’m fine,” Theo said, glancing over his shoulder but not quite looking at her.
“Theo, stop,” she said, pissed off. Her body was buzzingwith restless energy. She was worried and didn’t have time for him to be fussy.
Finally, he looked at her. Something in his expression broke. She softened her voice. “Come on, I’ll drive you home.”
She was concerned—not because he was injured, because it didn’t look terrible enough that he needed to see a doctor, but because he was so quiet. He looked wounded in a way that wasn’t just physical.
The only time she had ever seen him get hurt and not crack any jokes was that first time, when he’d fallen from the apple tree in his backyard.
“Okay?” she asked. He nodded, then followed her to the parking lot, walking a few steps behind her. They got to her car, and he threw his bag in the back. As she got into the driver’s seat, he collapsed into the passenger seat with a sigh.
She started the car, pulling out of the parking lot.
“You didn’t have to leave your date,” he said, grumbling. “You don’t have to do all this.”
“Stop talking,” she snapped. “I mean it.”
She looked over to glare at him, and he sank into his seat, crossing his arms over his chest.
“Everything hurts, and now on top of that, you’re being mean to me.” He pouted.
“I’m not being mean to you, I’m just telling you to shut up,” she told him, driving toward his place. “Let me take care of you.”
He went quiet. He turned away from her, looking out the window, but before he did, she caught the way his eyes shone. She glanced over at him again and saw his throat moving.
Something terrible was happening, and she couldn’t understand what. Fear clawed through her.
When they got to his apartment, she parked in his spot. They got out of the car, and she walked over to his side, taking his arm and putting it around her shoulder. They walked into his apartment building, taking the elevator up to his floor.
They made it to his place, stopping in front of the door, and he groaned. “My key,” he said. “It’s in my bag.”
Which they had left in the car.
“It’s okay,” she said, rummaging around her purse. She found the spare key she always kept with her and let them into his apartment.
Inside, she switched on the lights, helping him over to the couch. He sank in, resting his head back against the pillows and closing his eyes. She brought him painkillers and water, which he took.
“Your face,” she said. His nose had stopped bleeding, but there was dried blood all over the lower half of his face, and his shirt was in no better condition, the black fabric darker.
With a groan, he stood and pulled his shirt off.
Lavinia paused, pulse quickening. Of course, she had seen him shirtless hundreds of times before, but now the sight made her entire body tense. She had felt the muscles of his chest through his flannel when they had kissed. Her mouth went dry at the memory, her hands twitching.
He walked past her and went to the bathroom. She heard water running, but he must have only splashed water on his face because when he came back and fell onto the couch again, his face was only marginally cleaner.
“You look like shit,” she said.
He gave her a thumbs-up. “Feel like it, too,” he replied, not opening his eyes.
She shook her head, then went to his kitchen, grabbing a bowl of warm water and some paper towels. She came back and sat on the coffee table in front of him, putting the bowl beside her leg. She dipped the paper towel in, wringing it before lifting it toward his face.
“Let me,” she said.
He opened his eyes, gaze shifting to her hand. He paused, throat moving as he swallowed. He nodded slightly, closing his eyes again. She reached over, but he was all the way back on the couch, and she couldn’t reach from here. She stood, drawing closer, and she felt heat emanating off his body.
