Chapter Twenty-Two
A crackof light appears as the bedroom door opens. Calum stepsin.
“What time is it?” I mumble, half asleep. I must have dozed off. For a long time, I had watched Nisha as she slept, like a worried mother would with her sick child. Then, when my own exhaustion had crept up on me I’d lain down next to her on the bed and closed myeyes.
“It’s eight o’clock in the evening. I just wanted to see how Nisha is doing. Do you needanything?”
“I didn’t want to leave her. We fell asleep,” I say by way ofexplanation.
“Sure,” Calumsays.
Nisha is restless beside me. She starts to groan in her sleep, her head moving from side to side. I reach out to touch her shoulder. “Nisha…”
“No, get off me, you bastard!” she screams in her sleep, sitting bolt upright. Calum flicks on the light and rushes to her side before I am even able to react. He holds onto hertightly.
“Nisha, it’s okay. You’re okay,” he says, looking at me over her shoulder. He’s worried, his eyes are wide withconcern.
I rest my hand on Nisha’s arm, stroking her skin whilst Calum runs his hand gently up and down her back. Nisha pulls back, seemingly coming to. The nightmare still lingers in her face, but surprise overtakes her features as she realises who is holding ontoher.
“Cal?”
“I wanted to check on you. I apologise for overstepping,” he says, letting his arms fall to hisside.
“Don’t apologise,” Nisha says quietly, placing her hand onhis.
“I think I should leave,” Isay.
Nisha’s eyes flick to mine. She grabs hold of my hand. “Thank you for staying withme.”
“Will you beokay?”
Nisha looks at Calum, and a tentative look of hope lights her eyes. “I thinkso.”
“I’ll look out for Nisha now,” Calum says, and I’m pretty sure he’s talking about more than just the next couple ofhours.
Closing the door gently behind me, I make my way back to the living room. Hudson and Bryce are sitting on the sofa. Outside rain is pouring heavily. A flash of lightning illuminates the sky, making me jump. My teeth start to chatter, and I wrap my arms around myself in an attempt to make me feelbetter.
“Hey, darling, how’s she doing?” Bryce asks, getting up to greetme.
“I don’t know. She just woke up from a nightmare. She’s covered in bruises. Calum is with her now,” I say in a rush. Even though I’ve managed to sleep a little I am beyondexhausted.
Hudson moves towards me. “Are you hungry? Can I get you something to eat,drink?”
“Honestly, I…” My lip starts to wobble, and I try to hold onto the tears, but I find I don’t have any strengthleft.
“Come on, let’s get you to bed,” Hudson says. “You coming,Bryce?”
“I will, but I want to check on Maxfirst.”
“How’s he doing? I should go speak with him,” I start, rubbing at the tears that still persist infalling.
“He’s whacked, baby. It can wait tillmorning.”
“I don’t care if he’s asleep. I need to see him,” Iinsist.
“Sure,” Hudson says, nodding his head and taking my hand in his. We walk upstairs and enter Max’s room. He’s fast asleep on the bed, his right arm above the covers. A bandage is wrapped around his bicep. Letting go of Hudson’s hand, I sit on the edge of the bed, swiping his golden hair back off his forehead. He murmurs in hissleep.
“Oh, Max.” Leaning over, I brush a lingering kiss against his cheek and a sudden well of emotion fills my chest. “I love you,Jester.”