Page 243 of Kiss Me Tenderly

“B—”

Brianna starts, but before she can even form a word, I bump into the metal frame of the bed.

“—ed.”

“Shit,” my fingers wrap around the metal bar as the pain shoots through me, leaving me breathless in its intensity. I shut my eyes and bite into the inside of my cheek to stop a whimper from coming out.

Great, just what I needed. Another bruise to add to the ever-growing list.

“Birdy?” Sebastian’s groggy voice calls out.

“H-here,” I stutter, unwrapping my fingers from the metal bar and using it as a guide to—slowly—walk around it and to the other bed. My fingers slide over the mattress until I find his hand.

His palm is cool under my touch, so I wrap my fingers around his, giving them a firm squeeze. “I’m here.”

“What h-happened?” Sebastian asks, his voice raspy and slightly groggy from the medicine.

I frown at his question.Does he not remember?

“There was an accident at the concert…”

“N-not that. You… o-okay?”

“I’m fine. Just clumsy.”

Lifting my other hand, I gently place it on his cheek, rubbing the soft skin.

He’s okay.

He’s here.

He’s talking.

“You’re the least clumsy person I know, Birdy.”

“I don’t know about that.”

“I do.”

I run my fingers through his hair gently. “How are you feeling?”

“Tired.”

“You should try and get some rest then.” I start to pull back, but for somebody who’s barely woken up from anesthesia, his reflexes are fast.

“Stay.”

“I’m here. Brianna got me a bed too. I’ll be just…”

His grip on me tightens, and he pulls me toward him. “Here.”

“Sebastian, I don’t want to hurt yo—”

“You won’t hurt me. Don’t leave me,” he whispers, a trace of that vulnerability that he rarely shows clear in his voice.

“Okay,” I smooth my fingers through his wild curls. “I’ll stay.”

“C’mon,” Brianna sighs. “Let’s get you situated. You’re on his good side, Penny.”