↳ 𝐏𝐑𝐈𝐒𝐎𝐍𝐄𝐑 ー 𝐓𝐑𝐈𝐋𝐎𝐆𝐘

𝐋𝐗𝐗𝐈𝐈 ー 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞

◉

An outline of muscles and broad shoulders greets her when she stirs. With a muted sound Sierra pushes herself up so she's leant against the headboard, eyeing the man in the armchair.

"Does this mean you'll be watching me sleep?"

"You said your head hurts," Grayson mutters. For elaboration he nods to the painkillers and glass of water on the nightstand.

"Isn't this weird?"

"Not for me but I'm not exactly normal."

"You shouldn't talk about yourself like that." She reaches over for the pills.

"There you go again." He shakes his head. "I never thought I'd tolerate someone being kind to me, let alone enjoy it."

"You're my best friend."

"You were like this before we were friends."

Sierra doesn't object to the truth. She pops the painkillers into her mouth and swallows them with the cold water. No ice. It would be too cold to drink. Those tiny, seemingly insignificant details, only tug on her heartstrings.

He's trapped in a slalom of thoughts. His eyes are fixed on the slate grey sheets and the only part of him that's moving is his leg since it's bouncing.

"Come here."

The covers are thrown back and the empty space is patted. He climbs in and makes himself comfortable against the plush pillows. When she shuffles closer and lays her head on his chest, his brooding expression fades away.

"He's really okay with this?"

"Yeah."

"I don't want anyone to get hurt."

"That won't happen."

"This could blow up in our faces."

"Unlikely."

Her mouth twists. "What did he mean? When he said..."

"He's right about everything he said. I've been told I can be too much."

"Meaning?"

"I'd kill anyone who even looks at you. I'd kill anyone who looks at me. I'd want you carved into my skin, me on yours. I wouldn't stop until the entire fucking world knows."

He renders her silent. Fingers no longer tracing mindless swirls on his chest. It caves when he releases a bated breath.

"You're my best friend. I wouldn't force you to do something you don't want to do. I'm not that kind of monster."

"Stop calling yourself that."

"You know... when I was a kid I wanted a puppy. My parー the people we lived with yelled at me for hours after I let it slip. They ridiculed me. Humiliated me. Kaden talked me down after and made me understand why I couldn't have one. I would've killed it in minutes."