Page 54 of Reins

“Do you have sweats in your tiny bag?” He points at the container that’s barely the size of a shoebox.

Shaking my head, I toe it away with my foot. “Just another pair of jeans, another shirt, and some underwear.” My eyes squeeze shut. He’s going to think I’m so stupid. “I forgot to grab my pajamas.”

His palm patting my good knee startles me to look at him. “It’s fine, Ros. Let me grab some of mine. Then we’ll sit down and order some stuff online.” He grunts when he stands, his left leg stiff and straight under him for the first couple of steps.

I’m already so used to seeing his scars, I forget they’re there.

He’s more like me than anyone else I’ve ever met. He carries the marks of a punishment he didn’t deserve too.

Maybe he’s the only one who can look past mine?

“Feet up.” He holds the waistband wide until I thread my toes into the holes, then he gently feeds the ends up until my heels pop past the elastic. “Good girl,” he murmurs, raising the blanket off my lap between us like a wall.

I didn’t even have to ask.

Slowly, I rise and pull the baggy pants up over my hips and pull the string far enough to cinch them.

I’m swimming in them, but they’re warm.

“All set?” His voice drifts through the thin barricade.

“Yes, thanks.” My strength saps almost instantly as the weight of my emotions dumps out of me.

The hardest part is over. He saw me. And as the blanket lowers, there’s a soft tinge of sadness in his gaze.

Or is it pity?

“Here, take these.” He pinches a few tiny pills between his callused fingers. “They’re just Advil, but will help with the swelling.” He squints as the corner of his mouth drops. “You’re gonna be sore as shit tomorrow. Good thing we don’t have any fancy plans for Christmas.”

“We never did anything for the holidays after my parents died.” I let him help me stand and lead me towards the bedroom. “Don’t you want to visit your family? You can show them the picture.”

I want something good to come out of this instead of it just being about me making shitty choices.

He pulls the covers back on the bed and steps aside. “Not sure,” he grunts. “It’ll be easier to just have a one on one with Mason first. Having everyone there sounds…overwhelming after this much time.”

That part I can understand more than he realizes.

Tucking my toes between the sheets, our fingers brush when he helps me pull the thick comforter up.

I feel guilty being so small in a big bed, while he’s so much larger than the loveseat. “We should switch sleeping spots,” I say as a yawn takes over.

He pauses near the end of the mattress, then reaches down to cover my foot poking up under the duvet. “I’m fine, Ros. You need to rest.”

I’m not sure why, but that little touch before he turns away is more comforting than all of the patching up he did.

Chapter 28 - Cade

Did I wake up from my own dreams again?

Blinking into the darkness, I hear her soft whimper again.

Ah, shit. I hope it isn’t something in her belly.

Flinging off the blanket, I stifle my groan as I unfold myself from the loveseat and cradle my head in my hands for a moment.

Part of me wishes this was all just a nightmare. That I’ll open my eyes and Ava wasn’t a monster, Ros hasn’t been abused her whole life, and my nephew doesn’t look at me with hatred in his eyes.

Except it’s all fucking true.