Page 19 of Love Unwritten
“You have nothing to apologize for.” Although the look on his face and his continuous insistence on apologizing have me questioning if that’s true.
CHAPTER SIX
Ellie
Guilt prevents me from looking Rafael in the face. I’ve felt sick to my stomach ever since we entered the hospital, and it has nothing to do with Nico’s bloody chin or the view I have of the doctor sewing his split skin back together.
Thankfully, Nico looks better than he did when we first found him bleeding on his bedroom floor, but his eyes lack that special glimmer to them despite the doctor doing her best to distract him with funny stories about her own children.
“All done.” The doctor drops the used supplies in a medical waste bin before letting us know she will be back in a moment.
Nico entertains himself with Rafael’s phone while we adults sit in uncomfortable silence and wait for the doctor.
As my anxiety grows, incriminating hives appear on my chest. No amount of scratching alleviates the itchiness, and I release a frustrated growl.
“All good?” Rafael’s gaze drops to my black hoodie.
Nico’s wide eyes swing to mine, and I tuck my hands into my front pocket. “I’m fine.”
“If you need to step outside…”
“I said I’m fine.”
Rafael’s lips purse as he refrains from asking any further questions.
A few minutes later, the same doctor reenters the room before asking a few follow-up questions about Nico’s injury and pain. With every answer Nico gives, the knot in my stomach tightens until I’m about to curl over in discomfort. Rafael keeps glancing at me out of the corner of his eye, which only makes the belly pain worse.
The doctor instructs Nico to follow the path of her miniature flashlight before asking, “How’s your vision?”
Nico flinches. Rafael sneaks a glance at me, but I stare straight ahead, ignoring my itchy skin.
“When was your last test?”
“January,” Rafael answers for him.
“Have you noticed any changes since then?” The doctor scans the medical chart.
Rafael goes still while every muscle in my body tenses.
Nico ignores the flashlight as he stares down at his lap. “Yes.”
“You didn’t say anything,” Rafael says.
“I’m sorry.” Nico—sweet, innocent Nico—looks over at me for support while simultaneously giving me away.
I do my best to keep my face blank, although my hands tremble inside my hoodie pocket while Rafael looks at me like I’m his biggest enemy. “Did you know?”
I lose my ability to speak.
“Did. You. Know?” he asks in a rough tone.
I drop my gaze, wishing I could erase the look of mistrust and disgust from his face. “Yes.”
A little over an hour later, we finally pull up to the house. Rafael kills the engine and unbuckles his seat belt softly. I do the same and exit the truck, taking in a fresh lungful of air that isn’t tainted by Rafael’s anger and intoxicatingly addictive scent.
Rafael pulls Nico out from the back seat and tucks him against his chest, being careful not to wake him up. My stiff movements come off robotic as I follow them into the house.
Before I walk past the foyer, Rafael speaks up.