Page 18 of Sweet Oblivion

Not now. Not with him asleep in my bed. And certainly not with a squealing Piggie Smalls at my front door, ready to welcome someone inside.

Another knock comes, and I groan. Jesus. Impatient much?

“I’m coming,” I murmur as I pull on sweatpants and a ribbed tank, grateful for my small boobs because there’s no way in hell my sore arms could manage a bra this morning. I’m not sure why I bother glancing in the mirror, and regret eats at me immediately. Bruises mar my face. My cheek is stitched so meticulously, you can barely see the thread. Then there’re the broken capillaries... I look like my freckles have quadrupled overnight. And that’s before I look at my throat. At the fingerprints branding my swollen skin.

It looks so bad. A flash of last night comes back sopowerfully, I close my eyes and count to ten before opening them again. Yeah, I’m going to need to cover that. I grab the first hoodie I can find and throw it on, the less skin showing the better.

Tori follows me to the door and drops to her haunches as I check the peephole.

Shit. Ashton and Jamie are on the other side of the door, and my sister doesn’t look happy.

“Oh my God, Delaney,” Ashton cries, taking one look at me before she throws her arms around me and squeezes. Her baby bump presses against my ribs, stealing the breath from my lungs as I try to mask the pain. “I didn’t want to believe it, but you weren’t answering your phone, and I needed to see for myself. I wanted it to be wrong.”

“Give her some room, Ace.” Jamie kisses the top of her head and steps around his wife into my apartment, reaching down to give Tori some love. My baby sister, who they’re in the process of adopting, is tucked against his broad chest. She blinks up at me with big golden eyes that crinkle and smile when she sees me.

“La La,” she babbles, throwing herself into my arms. Kyrie’s new go-to move.

“Hi, sweet girl,” I murmur instead of thefuck that hurtthat threatens to break free because holy hell, I’m not sure I have the strength to hold her.

With horrified eyes, Ashton lifts her hands like she’s going to touch me. “It’s... I...” Her face scrunches, and tears pool in her eyes. “He hurt you.”

“I’m okay,” I promise, not quite believing it myself.

A strong, warm hand brushes my hip, and I force myself to keep breathing.

Guess he woke up.

“How about you give me Kyrie?” Ryker offers as he comes to a stop in front of me, reaching for her before I answer. The small grin on his face offers a little extra strength.

“Thanks,” I silently mouth back as he shifts Kyrie from my arms to his.

“Hey, baby girl.” He tosses her high in the air, and her squeals elicit a similar sound from Tori.

Babies are so easily redirected. Sisters, not so much.

My very pregnant, very hormonal sister plants her hands on her hips and narrows her eyes on Ryker. “You better have a really good reason for not calling me, Ryker Beneventi.”

Ryker looks at Jamie for help, but he just shakes his head, clearly taking Ashton’s side.

Men.

One pregnant woman asks a question and everyone clams up.

“I told him not to.” I put Ryker and Jamie out of their misery, but the hurt look on Ashton’s face puts me firmly in their place.

“Why?” she asks, and Ryker grimaces.

“How about we go get you guys some breakfast and give you some privacy?” he asks, bouncing Kyrie on his hip. “You want coffee, Lane?”

“No thank you,”I try to sign. What’s the sign for tea?“T.E.A.”

He nods. “We’ll be back in a few.”

Jamie kisses Ashton’s temple and waits for Ryker, who’s staring at me like he’s waiting for permission... or maybe waiting for me to be sure I’m okay. I nod, and so does he before walking through the door.

Silent communication with this man who saved my life but who I really don’t know.

Not well.