♤PACTS♤

Chapter 33 - Emo or Dealer

Marci Wellington's POV

Am I the only that likes to sleep in the same room with their boyfriend when they are under the same roof?

"Marcella! If you take one more step to that room, I'm calling out the big guns."

As you can see, my older cousin is not on board with the plan.

Figures.

"Mateo, I promise I will be in and out before you know it."

"What if Abuela comes to your room tonight?"

I facepalm. "Come on, bro. What's it gonna take?"

Mateo grins sheepishly and rubs his chin, "Let's see. What do I want?"

I glare at him and eye the door behind him. Maybe I can make a quick getaway?

All I want is to cuddle with my boyfriend. Is it too much to ask?

"If I let you into this room, you'll help me with my chores for a month."

I frown, "A week."

"Two months." His grin grows by the second. He is enjoying this way too much.

"Two weeks."

I clench my jaw and scowl at him, hoping he wouldn't make me go to the market with Abuela.

No offence to any cashier out there, but Abuela has this habit of doing math while paying for her stuff. Now, this won't be a bad habit if it didn't take about three hours for each trolley of goods to be calculated.

"You know how bargains work, right?"

I huff in annoyance. "Fine. I'll help you with your chores for three weeks. Now beat it."

Mateo chuckles quietly and steps out of my way. I push past him and open the door quietly to a dark room.

The adults of the Lealtad clan put Nate's room in the same hallway as Diego's and Mateo's rooms. This wouldn't have been a bad idea if it weren't three hallways, one flight of stairs away from mine. Also, Abuela's wine cellar is beside this room, so a bottle of Jack Daniels rests in my hand as I tiptoe to Nate's bed.

He's sprawled on the bed like a starfish. His glasses rest on his nose in a crocked form while a book rises and falls with his chest.

I smile and drop the bottle of alcohol on his dresser and walk closer to him. Removing the glasses and book from his body, I slide into bed with him. I prop my body sideways and rest my chin on my arm as I admire his form.

His bruises have faded completely, leaving only a few scratch marks on his face. The bandages on his foot and arm have come off, but he is still required to use his wheelchair to relieve pressure from his foot and allow it to heal properly. I eye the white gauze on his abdomen, and before I can stop myself, I reach out and caress it.

I was so concentrated on it that the feeling of another hand covering mine almost made me scream.

I turn my attention to my boyfriend. His forest green eyes shine in the dark, and seeing them without purple eyeliner almost brings tears to my eyes.

Almost being the keyword.

"Hi," I whisper.

"Hello, Marci. How are you?"

"Holding on by a thread. You?"

"Likewise."

We said no words after that. I continue to caress his knife wound and stare at him while he stares at me.