Chapter 86

It was probably six in the morning by that point, as I lifted my face to the cool dawn morning air. I'd done all I could for now and needed to check in on Xavier again.

As I entered the room, I found him awake and looking like he was preparing to stand up. "What are you doing?" I asked, rushing over to his side.

His eyes were alert but still in a lot of pain as they shot up to me in relief. "I heard the Jeep upfront and didn't see you anymore, so I thought-"

"It's alright, you should stay in bed." I helped him back under the covers and propped a few cushions behind his back so he could sit in bed. He was clearly still stiff and in pain, but he was moving easier than I expected him to. "I just cleaned and moved it a bit more forward and straighter. Can't have the neighbors thinking you can't park your car properly anymore, can we?"

He looked at me as though I was some sort of new, exotic creature