Garden of Roses ✔️

Chapter 33

Zara

          I slept. And I slept for what it felt like days. After Dante and I ate that French toast, I fell right back asleep and haven't woken up in a long time. For the next two days, I was in and out of sleep. It felt kind of like I was back in a coma. The only difference being that this time, I actually woke up every once in a while.

I guess I haven't even noticed how much I've exhausted myself. I was not only physically drained, but emotionally too. Starting with my chat with Luca, and then Isabella, and then Dante. So many things have happened, and the 48 hours of almost constant sleeping finally brought me back to feeling rested.

The pain I was in subsided pretty quickly this time. All I needed was some rest and my progress was back on track in no time. Thankfully, my escapades from the other day haven't left any permanent damage to my recovery.

Dante kept his promise and we tried a different French toast every morning. After many different variants, I could now say with certainty that my favorite was the one with raspberries and vanilla ice cream.

The first two days I haven't left my room, but Dante helped me at least get on the balcony for some fresh air. He knew how much I appreciated being outside.

"What, no stylish cane anymore?" Alex's mocking voice startles me and I sigh before I open my eyes to look at him.

"Shut up. You're interrupting my rest time," I say, adjusting my sunglasses and wiggling to get more comfortable on the deck chair. A week has passed and I didn't need my cane anymore. I hated it anyway. I felt ridiculous limping around with a cane like a premature senior, so as soon as I felt a little bit stronger, I tossed it without a second thought.

"Sorry, boss. Just wanted to hang out with you for a second, but I see you don't want my company," Alex says, faking being offended. As he turns around, I scoff and catch his wrist to get him to stop moving.

"Why are you always so dramatic? Just sit down." He chuckles before sitting down on the deck chair next to me.

"I'm dramatic? I don't know who here got scratched by a bullet and walked around with a cane like they were on their deathbed." Alex starts laughing at his joke but he abruptly stops when my elbow lounges in his ribs.

"Ouch, jeez, why'd you do that?" His hand flies to protect his ribs from any further damage, and only then do I remember his ribs were broken just a few weeks ago.

"Oh shit, sorry. Are you okay?"

"I'm fine. Just please don't touch me anymore," Alex says breathlessly, with his face in a painful grimace and both of his hands gripping his ribs. I really am sorry. It wasn't my intention to beat him, I was just joking around.

I see Bianca and Gabriella exiting the house, and as soon as they notice us, they start walking toward where Alex and I are sitting.

"Why such a sour face Alex? Did Zara beat you up again?" Bianca laughs seeing his grimace and the stiff position he's in.

"Would you keep your voice down?" I snap at her for almost shouting my name like that. No, there wasn't anybody around, but still. I wasn't willing to risk it. She clasps her palm over her mouth and shrugs her shoulders.

"As a matter of fact, she did. She elbowed me in the ribs," Alex retorts, still holding the place where my elbow hit him.

"I said I was sorry. Now can we move on?" Alex gives me a disapproving look before dropping the matter.