Page 41 of Watch Her Bleed
“Fine,” Matt says. He looks at me and sighs. “What do you want, Aurora?”
“Right now or long term?” I ask.
“Right now,” he smiles.
“Honestly, I just want to lie down and rest, but…” I start to say.
“But?” he asks.
“But I like being close to you. You make me feel safe,” I say.
“Then let’s go lie down,” he says.
“Okay,” I smile.
“Be good, please,” Matt says to his brothers as we get off the couch. Kaia stands and hugs me.
“Come get me if you need me, okay?” she asks.
“Okay. I should be fine,” I say. “You be good also.”
“I’m an innocent little flower,” she says, fluttering her eyelashes at me.
“Liar,” I laugh and she winks at me. When I turn back to the others, Milo hugs me.
“Don’t panic fondle him. He’s fragile,” Milo says.
“You and Kaia are too much alike,” I say when he pulls away. “Thank you for being supportive of me.”
“You’re welcome,” he says with a smile.
“Go get some sleep,” Luca says, hugging me next.
I follow Matt down the hallway and he walks into a bedroom at the end of the hallway. I stop in the doorway and he turns to me. “Aurora,” he says softly.
“I’m okay. I’m just out of my element,” I say reassuringly.
“Then come here and we can talk,” he says, putting his hands out for me to take. He pulls me over to sit on the bed before moving away from me and going to the closet.
“What are you doing?” I ask when he pulls a shirt out.
“I feel like you probably want to wear something other than that to bed,” he says.
“Oh, right,” I say as he hands me his shirt.
“I am going to shower. The remote for the TV is on my nightstand. Okay?” he asks.
“Okay,” I say. “I’m not going to freak out. You can relax.”
“You look like you’re going to freak out,” he says.
“Not from trauma,” I say. “I’ve never slept in a bed with anyone other than Kaia.”
“Okay, we’ll just watch television and relax. I’ll be back,” he says before kissing my forehead.
“So, I’m not going to have pants on,” I say.
“I’m aware. Would you like to blindfold me so I can’t see?” he jokes.
