Page 38 of Her Beastly Billionaire Rock Star
“I’ve been out the whole evening and you’ve been here the whole time?” He’d stayed for her. Her pulse jumped, and the machine next to the bed beeped. “I don’t remember what happened.”
He gave a faint smile. “We’ll talk when you aren’t exhausted.”
She wasn’t the only one. “Have you rested any?”
Shrugging, he waved her off. “I’m okay.”
Her headache was horrible, but she was with it enough to know his body language was saying anything but okay. Touching the back of her hand to his cheek, she asked, “Do you think you could lie down beside me? I’m kinda cold.”
“Anything.”
Charlotte grunted as she made room for him. It wasn’t until he wrapped around her that she realized how much she enjoyed being in his arms. Yes, he did satisfy the warmth part, but she also liked him being near. Plus, she knew he was exhausted.
If she had to guess, he was blaming himself for what happened, and it wasn’t his fault. As much as she wanted to argue the point—and she knew he would—she needed her head a little clearer first.
Before she could complain, a nurse knocked on the door and strolled in. The woman stopped next to the heart monitor. “I’m glad to see you’re awake.”
“I’d be gladto beawake if this headache wasn’t so bad and my arm wasn’t hurting so badly.” Charlotte grimaced. “Between the two, I’m feeling a little sick to my stomach.”
Malakai held his hand over his mouth as he yawned. “Do you have anything for her?” he asked, directing the question to the nurse.
She nodded. “Yes, the doctor left orders for pain management. I’ll run and get that before I take your vitals.”
“Thank you.” Malakai covered his mouth as he yawned again.
The nurse left, and Charlotte snuggled closer to him. “Thank you for staying with me.”
When he responded with a soft snore, she pressed her lips to his cheek. He was grief-stricken over what happened, something he had no control over. She knew they were just playing a part, faking it, but for her, it was becoming less pretend by the minute. She was falling for him…no, fallen. The bottom of the cliff had already been reached. At the end of this charade, she’d be patching up a broken heart.
Chapter 18
After two days in the hospital, Charlotte was ready to go home. A doctor stood at the foot of her bed, flipping through her chart. “Any dizziness or blurry vision today? Are you still experiencing nausea?”
“No, my head still aches a little, but I think it has more to do with the bruise,” Charlotte replied. “And the cut.” She’d learned that shaking her head was a no-no at the moment.
She glanced at Malakai who was sitting in the chair a few feet from her bed. Not once had he left her side other than to grab her some Cherry Sprite. He’d been so sweet and attentive, which only reinforced her suspicion that he held himself responsible for what happened.
They’d yet to discuss it. Every time she brought it up, he’d change the subject or say they’d talk about it later. Either that or someone would drop by, and it was a conversation she wanted to have while they were alone.
The doctor nodded. “I don’t see any reason to keep you here beyond today. So, I’m sending you home with a prescription for pain.”
She’d expected that since a nurse had taken her IV out earlier in the day. “Thank you.”
The doctor looked at Malakai and smirked. “Do you think you’ll be able to handle having drugs nearby?” Clearly, he was aware of Malakai’s addiction.
Malakai hung his head and nodded. “I can handle it.” The words came out barely above a whisper.
Charlotte narrowed her eyes. “Just because you read something in the newspaper doesn’t mean it’s true. Malakai Raven is clean and has been clean. He wouldn’t take medication that was mine, but if you’re that worried about it, I’ll decline the prescription.”
Malakai jerked his gaze to hers. “No. You can stay at the house, and I’ll go stay at the facility. They can monitor me there until you’re okay.”
“I’m not worried about you,” she said, putting as much confidence in the words as she could muster.
The doctor placed her file back at the end of the bed, seemingly unmoved by Malakai’s willingness to check himself back into the rehabilitation facility. “I’ll let you two discuss. I’ll tell the nurses they can discharge you.” He paused a moment, glancing from Charlotte to Malakai and back before leaving.
The moment the door shut, Charlotte bolted out of bed and locked it. She turned to Malakai. “You and I need to talk. It was not your fault that I got hurt. Not even a little. Someone grabbed me and pulled me away from you.”
Malakai stood and raked his hand through his hair. “I should have been faster.”
