Mine *don't read: being rewritten*

Chapter Twenty-Seven

(Hunter's POV)

They discharge me from the hospital at about nine. Riley has to work again, so Alex takes me home.

I try to go back to my room to shower, but Alex won't let me. "Alex," I start, laughing. "You don't need to watch me."

"But--"

"I love that you're concerned, but I'm not five."

"You might as well be! People with history of self-harm are likely to relapse--"

I cut him off again. "That sounds suspiciously like something Riley would say."

"Because it is..." Alex mutters, letting a little smile creep on to his face.

I laugh and shake my head. I decide to change the subject. Maybe if I can distract him I'll be able to go shower. "Speaking of, how was your date?"

Alex blushes. "Hannah's great. She looked beautiful," he says.

"Where'd you go? What'd you do? Did you kiss her?" I ask.

"We went out to dinner and saw some stupid movie. No, I didn't kiss her. I'm not as eager as you are." He laughs.

"Shut up." I slap his arm. "I'm going to go shower, now." I stand up.

"Hunter," Alex starts.

"Alex, you can't watch me all the time," I point out.

"No, but Riley can. So, when she gets off work she'll come over, and she'll make sure you're okay."

"She's not showering with me, Alex."

"She could." Alex raises his eyebrows.

"She won't," I tell him.

Alex is quiet for a minute, then, very quietly, says, "It's not like she hasn't seen you naked before."

"Alex! Oh my, God!"

"She'd enjoy it. So would you. It'd probably lead to some steamy shower sex..."

"Please, stop talking," I beg. "I'm going to shower. I'll be out in twenty minutes."

I grab a change of clothes from my room and walk into the bathroom. I realize that I forgot my towel so I go back to my room, taking my shirt off as I go. I discard the shirt into the hamper. My phone rings on my bed. I glance at the caller ID and see that it's Riley.

"Hello, Riley Ann." I smile, although she can't see me.

"Hey, Hunter."

"How's your day going?" I ask.

"Hannah will not stop talking about her date last night. Please, make it stop."

"I wish I could, babe." I laugh.

"What about you?"

"Well, Alex will barely let me out of his sight. He wouldn't let me shower by myself."

"Was he implying that he was going to shower with you?" she asks, laughing.

"No, he said that he was going to wait until you got off work and that you were gonna come over and shower with me, because he can't watch me all the time, but you can." Riley laughs really loud, and I just picture her clapping her hand over her mouth. She starts to giggle uncontrollably.

"Well, are you gonna wait for me?" she asks, still giggling like crazy.

"No. Sorry." I laugh. "He brought up shower sex, too."

Riley doesn't stop giggling. In the back, I hear Hannah say, "Riley, will you stop?"

"I can't," she says to Hannah.