I try to offer a shred of comfort to her.
“I know. I’m just so relieved.” Her head falls a little. “After you brother, I just don’t know how we would have managed. You know I think of you like my own, right?”
I tangle my fingers with hers, beaming up at her. “We’re family. And besides, I have to stick around. Someone has to be here to keep you on your toes.”
She laughed a little, rubbing her thumb under her eyes.
“Eat up. Your medication is in the small dish.” She runs her free hand over her face before pushing up from the bed.
Once Moira exits my room, I flip the TV on for some background noise as I peel apart the flaky pastry. I could tell it was from my favorite bakery. Moira really pulled out all of the stops.
Flipping through the channels, I finally land on a Criminal Minds rerun that I have seen five times, at least. I’m able to get most of the tea down and all of the croissant before my pain level starts to creep from a five to an eleven. It damn near takes all of my strength just to choke down the pills before my head falls back onto my plush pillow. It feels like it weighs a million pounds. This is not fun at all.
Gentle tapping clicks in my brain as I groggily come to again.
“Charlotte?” Blaine is standing in the doorway with a bouquet of white roses. The bottom of his chin has a bandage, but other than that he looks completely fine. Lucky bastard.
“Hi,” I cough.
“Char, I hope this is all right. I tried to visit you at the hospital and the nurse told me that they sent you home already. Your mom was nice enough to let me come up.” He rapidly spits out the words, taking a few steps into me room.
“Thanks for coming to check on me. Those are beautiful.”
“It was the least I could do.” Blaine sets the flowers down next to my other ones. “I feel horrible.”
“They’re called accidents for a reason. It wasn’t your fault. How could it be?” I point to the armchair a few feet away from my bed. “Sit. Relax. You look like you need to take a load off.”
Rubbing the back of his neck, Blaine nods. “Yeah. Okay.”
“How are you?” I asked, twisting a little so I could look at my guest.
“Fine,” he mutters. “Don’t worry about me.”
His eyes start darting around the room. He looks nervous and on edge. But it could be all the meds making me paranoid.
“What is it?” I force out.
“I just feel like absolute shit that you’re laid up like this because of me.” His head falls into his hands. “I don’t know if I will ever be able to forgive myself. This is all my fault. Look at you. You wouldn’t be all banged up if it wasn’t for me. You’re too beautiful, too perfect to be hurt like this.”
Well, that was a little dramatic.
Blaine’s words stain the air. What in the world? Blaine has always been a little flirty with me, but never this outright. It feels off. Something is going on but I can’t piece it together. I can’t piece anything together. Stupid meds. Stupid head trauma. I need to figure out a way to get my head back on straight.
“Honestly, Blaine. I am going to be right as rain in no time. This is nothing to beat yourself up over.” I don’t know what else to say. It’s true, right? I am going to be fine eventually.
“Thank you for that. I needed to hear it. Char, can I ask you something?”
I cock my head to the side as Blaine’s eyes dart to the floor. “Sure.”
“Would you consider letting me take you out to dinner when you’re up to it?” he stammers.
Well, that came out of left field.
“Blaine,” I breathe out, not entirely sure how to let the guy down easy. “You’re so sweet, but I don’t know if that is a good idea.”
His face twists as he grips the arms of the chair.
“I like Xander,” I continue, letting my admission swarm around in the still air.
“He’s not good for you,” Blaine growls low through gritted teeth. “You deserve someone better.”
“Someone like you?” I ask, not sure where the hell this conversation is going.
“I didn’t say that, just someone better.”
“Knock, knock,” a familiar voice sings out. “Oh, you already have company.”
My eyes break away from Blaine to Ellie ambling in, still in her