DAY 9

Daniel wakes Lynell up twice to give her painkillers. Each time, she watches him leave the room before sleep tugs her back under.

When she wakes in the morning, Daniel’s lying on the bed, head propped on his arm so he can look down at her. “Here.” He reaches over her to the bedside table and grabs two more pills and a glass of water. After she swallows them, he kisses her forehead and climbs off the bed. “How did you sleep?”

Lynell sits up, wincing, and leans her head back. She considers telling him about her dream, another from the early days of their relationship, but she can’t bear to see the hurt in his eyes. “Fine,” she says.

His lips twitch into half a frown, as if sensing a lie. “Good,” he says. “Want any breakfast? I found some frozen waffles and a few eggs.”

Lynell nods and pushes off the blanket. She studies her body, getting her first good look at the damage. There are bruises littering her legs and both ankles are wrapped. She lifts her shirt and prods the bandage on her midsection. Then she looks at her hand, completely covered in a bandage. All the wounds, small and large, throb, as if reminding her of their existence.

“I’m so sorry.” Daniel tucks a strand of her hair behind her ear. “I’m sorry I didn’t come sooner. And that I didn’t realize what Zach was going to do.”

“Daniel . . .” Lynell whispers.

“I’m sorry I didn’t keep you safe. I—”

“Danny. Stop.” She lays her hand on the back of his neck, but his eyes stay trained down. “None of this is your fault. You saved me. You always save me.”

He meets her eyes and reaches up, wrapping her good hand in his. His lips part slightly as he searches her eyes. Lynell smiles and it’s all Daniel seems to need before his lips are pressing on hers for the first time in over three years.

It’s gentle and calm. Lynell can tell Daniel is holding back, for fear of hurting her broken body. Even the tender kiss irritates the cut on her lip. Lynell grips his shirt at his chest and when he leans forward and deepens the kiss, she gasps.

He pulls away and looks down at her hand and back up to her face, eyes wide. “Are you okay?”

She smiles. “Yes. Yes. You didn’t hurt me.” When he doesn’t look convinced, she pushes her lips against his for a second and rests her forehead against his. “You didn’t hurt me.”

Daniel closes his eyes and sighs, shaking his head.

Lynell moves her hand up to his chin and tilts her head. “Hey . . .” she mutters. Daniel opens his eyes and meets hers. “You didn’t, I promise.”

Daniel sighs and pulls his hand down his face before standing from the bed.

“What? Where—”

“I’ll be back. I’m going to make breakfast.” Before Lynell can argue, Daniel rushes from the room, leaving Lynell feeling cold, alone, and unsure how their moment of intimacy plummeted so quickly.