“I washed my hands while I was there, so I’ll do it.” She set about cleaning Roxy’s head while Matt asked the probing questions.
“Headache? Nausea?” He watched as Frankie applied the sterile dressing and then closed the first-aid kit.
“You’re worried about brain damage, but my mom always said I had no brain to damage.” Her attempt at a joke ended in a sound somewhere between a laugh and a sob, and Matt curved his arm around her and pulled her against him in a brotherly hug.
“It’s all right. You’re safe now.”
“I don’t need help. I can handle this.” A single tear spilled down Roxy’s cheek and she made a furious sound and brushed it away with the heel of her hand. “It’s dusty in here. We need to clean this place up.”
Frankie could see that she was shaking. “Roxy—”
“Don’t give me sympathy. I don’t want my baby to see me cry.” More tears glistened in her eyes and she blinked rapidly. “Say something annoying. Make me mad.”
“No problem. Making people mad is my special gift.” But Frankie moved so that she blocked the child’s view. She wanted to hug Roxy, too, which surprised her because emotions usually sent her running. Maybe being with Matt had changed her in more ways than she’d thought. “What happened? What can we do?”
“I got involved with the wrong guy, that’s what happened. I don’t know how he found me, but he did. If he put half as much effort into finding a job maybe he wouldn’t be such a loser.” Roxy gave a disgusted sniff. “I’m not going back to the apartment. I grabbed what I could although I’ve probably left loads behind.”
“Why did you have to grab your things, Rox?” Matt’s voice was gentle. “Eddy did this? He hit you?”
“Sort of.”
A muscle flickered in Matt’s cheek. “You don’t sort of hit someone, Rox.”
“He shoved me really hard and I hit the wall.”
“Did you call 911?”
“No. That would have made him mad, and he was already mad enough. I told him to get the hell out, and he got the hell out. I don’t think he’ll be back, but I don’t want to risk it. That’s why I need time off. I need to find somewhere safe for Mia and me to stay, just while I sort myself out. There’s a mom at nursery I might be able to crash with for a couple of nights.”
She glanced over at Mia again, checking on her constantly, but the little girl was tugging hard on James’s hair as they studied the “fies,” oblivious to the drama playing out close by.
“You need help, Roxy.”
“Who’s going to help? Eddy isn’t exactly the type who lives up to his obligations. And even if he wanted to try again, I wouldn’t let him. I promised myself I would never, ever stay with a man who scares me. I don’t want Mia growing up thinking that’s okay. I’m going to have to help myself. And that’s fine. Totally fine.” Despite the heat, her teeth were chattering and Matt tightened his grip on her.
“I wasn’t talking about Eddy.”
“Who, then?” Roxy sniffed and pulled away, her eyes widening as she saw the look on Matt’s face. “You? You’ve already done loads, and Mia isn’t even your kid. You gave me this job and your sister helped me find childcare.”
“You can stay at my place.”
“Hey, I’ve waited a year for you to make me an offer like that—” eyes glistening, Roxy gave him a playful punch on the arm “—and you do it now while my face looks like a rainbow.”
“I’m serious, Roxy.”
“So am I. It’s kind of you Matt, but I can’t stay with you in your fancy Brooklyn brownstone. I’m not that kind of gal.”
“What you are is a good, kind, caring person who needs a break,” Matt said. “So for Mia’s sake, you’re going to ignore pride and say ‘Yes, Matt.’”
Roxy stared at a point on the center of his chest, her face set as she struggled not to cry. “You have a life to live. I’m not going to be a burden to anyone. And anyway, your cat would try and kill Mia.”
“You can use my apartment.” Until the words came out of her mouth, Frankie didn’t realize she was going to say them. “It’s safe and it’s all one level, unlike Matt’s. We won’t need to do much in the way of childproofing.”
She felt Matt’s gaze on her and knew he was as surprised as she was by her offer.
Oh God, what had she done? She’d given up her beloved apartment. Her security. Her independence. Despite Matt’s suggestions, all she’d left so far in Matt’s apartment was a toothbrush. This was a huge step.
Anxiety rippled through her, and she tried to ignore it.