Page 16 of Love at First Write

ME: He does not make me feel uneasy at all.

GRACIE: I think that means he makes her feel horny.

CAROLINE: Who hurt you? Why are you like this?

GRACIE: Let us know how it goes. And send us a picture.

CAROLINE: You should definitely do that because if this does turn into a Dateline episode, then we’ll need photographic proof of your murderer.

GRACIE: That got dark fast.

GRACIE: And you said there’s something wrong with me. Settle down over there, Norma Bates.

CAROLINE: Classic. *Laughing emoji

CAROLINE: Psycho is a great movie.

ME: Y’all are nuts.

I do change clothes. Putting on sleep shorts and a shirt that my tits don’t hang out of. Then I step out into the hall, bringing my phone. Murder plan or not, it’s not a bad idea to send my friends his picture.

By the time I get out there, he’s shirtless and standing at the kitchen sink. He’s holding a rag over the sink and rinsing what looks like blood out of it.

“Uh, did you hurt yourself?”

He looks up at me, his features soften immediately. “Just busted open my stitches.”

Alarm floods through me. “Stitches? Why do you have stitches?” I come closer and around the kitchen island to where he’s standing.

There, I can see he’s got a sizeable gash on his left calf. Only visible now that he’s shoved his pants leg up to his knee.

“Oh, before I forget, smile or whatever,” I say holding up my phone. “My friends suggested I send them a picture of you so if I’m murdered, they know who to blame.”

“Solid friends.”

He gives me that crooked grin, the one from his picture, and I swear my heart rolls over like a dog wanting a belly rub. I snap the picture, then text it to the girls.

He points to the first aid kit on the counter. “Hope you don’t mind that poked around under sinks until I found this.”

“No, of course not. So, you really did just come straight from the hospital.”

He looks into my eyes as I step closer to him.

“Why don’t you jump up on the counter and I’ll take over. It can’t be easy to doctor yourself in that position.”

Without a word, he presses himself up onto the countertop. I step closer to him and with our current positions, I’m now standing between his legs. He lifts his left leg, giving me better access.

My phone buzzes from next to him. He glances over and laughs.

“Oh God, what did they say?” I lean over to look and just kill me now.

GRACIE: Holy shit, Kels.

GRACIE: I hope you’re naked right now, riding him like a goddamn show pony.

GRACIE: I mean seriously. He is stupid hot. What is that, an eight-pack? I didn’t know that was a thing.

CAROLINE: I think I might have drooled on my phone.