Page 101 of Tormented Kings
He called me right away, asking if I was okay. I hated lying to him, but I didn’t want to deal with this right now. I just wanted to go home and lock myself in my room.
So, I told him I think I got sick from something I ate for lunch and wasn’t feeling good. He told me he would come find me and take me home, but I told him I’d just meet him at the Host Club room. I needed time to put makeup over the marks on my neck to cover them up.
Now that I’ve had some time to calm down, my face is cleaned up, and my neck has been dealt with, I walk to meet Grayson. I’ve completely shut down and am totally numb.
Time to put on a happy face and act like everything is fine.
“Hey, Pretty Girl.” Grayson steps out of the Host Club room before I get to the door. I look up and force a smile on my face.
“Hi.” It’s a weak hi, with my throat sore.
“You don’t look so good.” His eyes scanning my every feature.
“Thanks,” I laugh jokingly.
“Not what I meant,” he growls.Not in a playful mood, I see.He seems concerned. Fuck, I want to cry because of how much he cares.
“Thanks for bringing me home. I know you have a class in an hour.”
“Of course. Are you sure you're okay?”
I nod. “Just nauseous. Nothing that some Pepto and sleep won’t fix.” It’s not a lie, I’ve felt like I wanted to puke since the moment I bumped into Tina.
Grayson snakes his arm around me and walks me to his car. The ride home is silent. I sit there with my eyes closed, head leaning against the cool window.
When we get inside, he walks me to my room. “You sure I can’t come hang out with you?”
“I’m just going to be sleeping.” I give him a soft smile. “Go, you need to get back to school.
He looks like he wants to argue but nods his head before kissing my forehead. “Feel better soon, Pretty Girl.”
“Thanks,” I whisper, turning around and entering my room, and closing the door behind me without looking back.
Tears fill my eyes as I strip out of my school clothes and head into my attached bathroom for a shower.
I stand in the hot water, eyes closed, head back, for longer than I should, just enjoying the burn of it against my skin.
When the heat starts to make me dizzy, I get out, change into a sweatpants—sweater set before climbing into bed, and falling asleep.
Something cold against my head pulls me from sleep, but I don’t wake up, not fully. “My silly little Pretty Girl,” Grayson’s soft voice fills my ears. “Thinking I’d just go back to school with you home and sick. I don’t think so.” I feel the soft press of his lips against my forehead. If I was fully awake, the gesture would make me cry with how damn sweet he is. Instead, I slip back to sleep.
When I wake again, I find myself alone in my room, my bedside lamp on. My head aches when I sit up, and I groan as I stumble my way to the bathroom to pee.
Back at my bed, I look at my phone and find a ton of text messages. But I smile when I see one in our group chat ofGrayson letting the guys know I’m okay, and had gone home sick. He made sure to let them know he had me taken care of and that I was fine.
Sighing, I put my phone back and look at my bedside table to see a glass of water and a pain pill. I bite my lip at another one of his gestures that has me wanting to cry.
Taking the pill, I swallow it down with the water, then move to get back into bed but pause. I don’t want to be alone. I don’t want to lay back in this bed and let my mind wander.
Looking at the time, I see that it’s midnight. Mom and Mark should be fast asleep.
So, I leave my room and quietly make my way down the hall. When I get to Grayson’s room, I pause, wondering if he would be upset.
Then I remember whose room I’m about to go into and smile. No, I don’t think he would care. Well, I hope not.
Opening his bedroom door, I find his sleeping form on his bed. I smile again as I close the door behind me.
Standing by the bed, I watch him for a moment. He’s laying on his back, lips parted as he snores softly. His messy black hair brushed over his forehead, and he’s shirtless displaying his tattooed chest.