“What happened to your face?”
I look at Lachlan, wide-eyed, as I enter his office Wednesday. He stands, hands on his desk as he looks at me in complete shock. I guess since he’s a faculty member, he hasn’t heard the murmurs echoing through the halls about the accident. Luckily, all our injuries were fairly minor. It could’ve been a lot worse.
“Oh, I…” I swirl my finger at my face. “I was in an accident.”
“What the fuck?” he blurts, still staring at me in shock.
I look like hell, I know. The force to my nose has caused two black eyes and purple definitely isn’t my color.
He unfreezes and suddenly he’s right in front of me, taking my face ever so gently in his massive paws he calls hands.
I see the questions reflecting in his eyes.
“I was with Ansel, Sasha, and Seth,” he probably has no idea who all of them are, but his eyes narrow when I mention Ansel, “and we hit a deer. It sent the car spinning and we crashed into an embankment. I’m fine, I promise. Sore, but fine.”
“Dani,” my name is a plea on his lips. “Why didn’t you tell me?”
I think of his unanswered text sitting on my phone. After Sasha discovered the message I was too scared to text back and with the accident Sunday morning … well, Sage has been a mother hen so it’s been impossible to let Lachlan know anything.
“I couldn’t.”
His face falls, but I know he understands.
“But you’re okay?” His thumb rubs a gentle circle over my cheek.
“I’m fine. Just banged up. My ribs are bruised too.”
He looks down, like he can see the bruise across my chest from the seatbelt through my black sweater.
“I’m so fucking sorry.”
“It was a freak accident,” I reply, moving around him to sit down on the couch, my body craving the rest. Sage wanted to keep me home the rest of the week, but I wanted to get back to my regular schedule.
“I thought you were sick when you didn’t show up yesterday or Monday.” His hands sit low on his hips. “I wanted to text you, but figured I shouldn’t.”
I blow out a breath, looking at him with sad eyes. “This is so complicated.”
“Yeah.” He leans against his desk, rubbing his face. His eyes flick over me yet again.
“I know it looks bad, but it could’ve been worse.” He clears his throat, and I can tell he’s a bit choked up. “Lachlan, I’m fine, I swear.”
He opens his mouth to respond, but at that moment the door flies open.
He jumps away from his desk like he’s on fire. Luckily, we were nowhere close.
“Oh, sorry for interrupting,” one of the secretaries says, “I was told to run these down to you.” She holds out a few files, her other hand still on the doorknob.
Lachlan’s smile is tight. “Thank you.” He takes them from her, dropping them on his desk.
“No problem. Sorry,” she says again, flashing me an apologetic smile, “I didn’t mean to interrupt.”
“Knock next time,” Lachlan’s tone is icy and rather rude.
She pales, her eyes shooting to his. “Of course, again, I’m sorry.”
She closes the door behind her and we both are silent for several minutes.
Lachlan finally moves, collapsing in his chair.