CATHERINE
"I feel like shit."
"And I feel like I have walked through fire," Tori replied, and I smiled.
"Oh, my munchkin!" She hugged tightly. "I’m so glad you’re okay. You made so worried!"
"Ow! Ow!"
"Sorry!" She gave an apologetic expression as she stared at my hand. "Damn, that looks painful."
"It is..." I looked at the cast. "I think I’m useless for the ti being, and that is not a good feeling. I can’t wipe my ass."
"I can’t wipe your ass, girl."
I scoffed. "I can. I was ssing with you, but bathing will be a handful."
"Now that I can help it. You should have just said so, but the first thing you thought of is wiping your ass."
"Can we chill with the wiping of ass stuff?"
"You’re the one who started it."
"Evil!" I lightly pushed her chest with my good hand, and she laughed.
"I’m so glad you’re awake."
"Yeah, too. Sleeping is the last thing I want right now."
I was still plagued with dreams of mom and dad. I had nightmares sotis about it, but it is much worse right now.
"The doctor said you’re gonna be okay. Can you believe it’s the renowned Dr. Nolan Miller?"
I blinked in shock. "Really...?"
The private suite I stayed in gave it away, but I never thought I was attended by Dr. Miller himself.
"Yes, girl, which ans you’re in good hands. Fast recovery is knocking right up, Mrs. King."
I rolled my eyes. "Oh, please, I’m just Catherine Lane to you, there’s no need to use that title when it’s just us."
"But the rest of the city says otherwise..." She sighed, eyeing quietly. "So I talked with Dr. Miller while you were unconscious, thanks to Athena."
"You did?"
"Yeah, I asked about you. He said you’re under a lot of stress from the accident."
"Y-Yeah?" I replied, a feeling settling low in my stomach.
"Cat?"
"Hmm...?"
"You know I got you, right? Always. No matter what quarrel we have, it’s nothing compared to how much you an to ."
I forced my smile to stay on; I knew where she was going with this, and nevertheless, I replied. "I know."
"So—"
"Can we not talk about the accident? It’s still fresh and I don’t wanna dive into that again."
"Sure, sure! I understand."
I nodded. "Thanks."
The silence was loud, and I knew it was at the tip of her tongue to question further, so I changed the topic.
"So how’s Reed? I wish I could go to him but I can’t stand without falling."
"He’s doing great. Just a mild concussion, nothing serious."
I sighed in relief.
"I guess I’m all over the internet. I can already picture the headlines. Please tell it isn’t anything stretchy."
"Given the fact I looked all over hospitals for you... Your situation is pretty much under wraps. No photo from the accident, none. I checked, and all I saw was the car and scene."
Ares must have taken care of it. Speaking of Ares, I haven’t seen him since I woke up yesterday. To be honest, I don’t think I can face him right now, not after what happened. The pressure will get to faster than a volleyball.
"Cat. Cat!"
"Hmm?"
"Zoning out now?"
I blinked, shaking my head. "No, um, just thinking..."
"Less thinking, more resting. You look pale."
"Yes, ma’am."
"Oh, before I forget..." She pulled out a phone box I didn’t know she had with her. "Here, all set."
"This is not my phone," I said, opening the box.
"No, yours didn’t survive the crash. This is courtesy of Ares King. It was given by so random dude in a wine red suit, who said it’s for Mrs. King."
"Oh..."
Why didn’t Ares give it to himself?
I shoved that thought out of my mind. "Did granny and gramps call?"
"Nope!"
I sighed in relief. I should be glad I spoke with them before the accident. I didn’t want them to know about this and worry; I can deal with anything else but not that.
I swiped through, and most of everything I had in my phone was recovered. At least there was one thing that made less miserable.
Suddenly, the door opened and Athena casually strolled in.
"Bring it in. Chop! Chop!" She snapped her fingers as the service trolley was rolled in.
"What’s this?" I asked.
"I’m so glad you’re finally awake, Cat. Now you need all the food you can get, and I brought just the right thing." She took off the stainless steel cloche.
"Sushi!" Tori and I said in unison.
"What kind of angel are you?" Tori said with dreamy eyes.
"This is for Cat, not you, so shoo!"
"Aww, co on!"
She ignored Tori and smiled at . "Eat as much as you want, my sweet Cat."
~☆~
I rasped heavily as I clenched the pillow. With a stir, I flashed open my eyes as the harsh sound of my breathing filled the space around .
I’m not sure it was up to three hours that I had closed my eyes, and now I was awake. I was hoping a full belly would make drift into a far comfortable sleep, but I thought wrong.
Groaning, I pressed the button on the headboard. Slowly, the bed lifted, raising my upper body without forcing to sit.
I used the back of my good hand to wipe my face, realizing how sweaty I was. However, my action paused when I caught a shadow at the corner of the room where the couch was.
It was dark, and the only source of light was from the nightstand lamp.
I squinted my eyes, to have a clearer visual.
"Ares?" I said faintly, having a gut feeling that it was him. "What are you doing over there?"
"Watching you."
I shivered at the sound of his voice, disliking how easily affected I was by it. The deep layers of it had a way of making my pulse race and a hotness pooling in my stomach.
I cleared my throat to compose myself. "T-That’s creepy, lurking over there in the dark."
I felt it, even though I couldn’t see, a smile curling on those tan lips.
Ares rose, and my breath caught because his shadow grew massive. I heard his shoes as he neared the bed, followed by a delicate tinkle.
When the light touched him, I was completely overwheld by the sight of him.
His shirt clenched over his biceps and chest as he lifted the rocks glass to his lips, the whiskey inside chilled with ice.
"Careful, baby. Calling your husband creepy is gonna get you in trouble."
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