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.
“Stay here,” he mutters in a low voice. I’m stunned into submission as I stand in the front entryway, twisting my hands in my pocket while I wait for the inevitable.
Rafael takes his sweet time getting Nico ready for bed, all while my heart feels close to launching itself out of my chest. Although I could definitely use an edible or two to take the edge off, sneaking into my room after Rafael’s request to stay put would only make my situation worse.
Is that even possible?
I curse to myself as a door closes in the distance. Goose bumps spread across my skin as Rafael’s steps echo off the vaulted ceiling. He walks out of the dark hallway and motions for me to follow him into the living room.
Walking behind him feels like I’m trudging through quicksand.
“Sit.”
I follow his command and drop onto the couch across from his favorite leather chair. He heads over to the bar cart in the corner and pours himself a drink before taking a seat diagonal to me. Neither one of us says anything as he brings the glass to his lips and takes a sip.
His eyes remain glued to mine while his Adam’s apple bobs as he swallows. My skin flushes, and I look away as blood rushes to my ears. “I can explain.”
“Don’t bother.”
“But—”
He balances his glass on his muscular thigh. “I have one question for you.”
“Okay.”
“You knew.”
“That’s a statement.”
His jaw clenches so hard, I fear for the state of his molars.
“When I talked to you yesterday about him, you knew?” He enunciates each word with a sneer.
“Yes, but—”
“Then that’s all.” Ice rattles as he draws the glass back toward his mouth.
“I’m so sorry. I wish I could take it all back. I had no idea something like this could happen, or—”
He cuts me off with an icy glare. “You can’t, though, can you?”
“Nico begged me not to say anything.”
“If I wanted an explanation, I would have asked for one.”
“I deserve a chance to—”
“You deserve nothing,” he hisses under his breath.
If I had gone against Nico’s wishes and said something like I had wanted to, this wouldn’t be happening right now.
But it did.
I take a deep breath to center myself. “Regardless, I am sorry. Nico getting hurt was an accident.”
“So was hiring you.”
My sharp inhale only seems to annoy him more.
He doesn’t bother looking at me as he says, “I should’ve known better than to trust someone like you.”
My whole world stops as I process his words. “What?”
“You have no experience with children, and it clearly shows.”
Deep breaths, Ellie. He has every right to be upset, so no need to fight his fire with yours.
My hands curl into tight fists. “In the time I’ve worked here, I have made one mistake—”
“A mistake that sent my kid to the hospital!”
I do my best to quell my anger like my mom taught me. “I’m so sorry.”
“You’re lucky I don’t sue.”
“What?” My voice trembles, along with my hands by my sides. I hate myself for showing any sign of weakness, but I can’t stop the raw burst of emotion from overwhelming me.
He looks unbothered by my outburst as he picks at a piece of invisible lint. “If that’s all…”
His cold reaction triggers a past memory of Ava doing the same. The way she dismissed me like I never mattered. Like we hadn’t been friends for fifteen years before she let a man and his lies get between our friendship… God, I’ll never forget the ache.
Rafael robs me of my next reply. “I’m taking Nico to my aunt’s house tomorrow for a sleepover, so that should give you enough time to clear out your room.”
I must have misheard him. “Excuse me?”
“I’ll get Nico ready for school and drive him there myself. It’s best for you to stay in your room during that time.”
“Can I at least say goodbye to him?”
Rafael cuts me down with a single “No.”
I rapidly blink until I regain control of my tears. “So that’s it? I’m dismissed?”
“No, Eleanor. You’re fired.”
