Free Fighter: A Bad Boy Romance by Autumn Avery Page B

bones!’
    “Okay, one second,” is what comes out when I open my mouth. I turn on my heels and go to the closet and rummage around until I find my old sewing kit, which is basically a mess of needles, bobs and threads in a pink shoebox. When I get back to the bathroom I find Ty sitting on the toilet, seat down, holding a large wad of paper towels over his cut.
    “Got any rubbing alcohol or hydrogen peroxide or something?” he asks me.
    “Cabinet by your knee,” I say quickly, sitting down on the edge of the tub beside him. He leans down and grabs a brown bottle and pops the cap. Without hesitation, he douses his wound with it. I expect a reaction. That must sting like crazy. But he doesn’t let out a noise or show any signs of pain.
    Who the hell is this guy?
    “Any color preference?” I say, trying to joke and add some levity to this situation. My mind is racing. I have no idea what the hell is going on right now. Every emotion that a person could possibly have is flowing right through me. I’m turned on. I’m horny as hell. I’m confused as to what he’s doing here and where he got these cuts. I’m furious that he just showed up like this, but excited at the same time. I’m pissed, but also happy to see him, and I’m scared that one of my kids is going to walk in and see him here.
    Also, what is with Bruno and Chester? They’re sitting happily at the door, eyes on Ty like this is completely normal.
    “As long as it’s not pink,” he says with a smile.
    “What a man,” I say sarcastically, doing my best to thread a roll of light grey thread through the eye of a needle. I finally get it and lean forward towards him. “Okay, I haven’t done this ever, and I haven’t sewed since I was about thirteen.”
    “Yeah, well I’m bleeding so as long as you can stop that I think we’re fine.”
    He leans in and pulls his hand away. The cut is pretty bad. It looks less like a cut and more like he got hit by something and the skin just split open. I feel my stomach twist as more blood seeps out. He dabs it quickly with the paper towel.
    “Let’s go,” he says, obviously in more pain than he’s letting on.
    “Okay!” I snap, trying not to shout. I take a deep breath, and push the needle through his skin. Again I expect a reaction but get none. Not a flinch, not a gasp, not a wince. Nothing. I push the needle through the other side of the wound and pull. It starts to close pretty well. I loop the thread back and push through again, repeating this several times.
    “How did this happen?” I manage to say after I get four loops closed.
    “Would you believe me if I told you I bumped my head on a door?”
    I look down at his face for just a minute, seeing that same cocky smile I saw at the club. My heart flutters in my chest, and I have to go back to my stitch.
    Those eyes, I think. It’s like he sees right through me .
    Two more stitches and the wound is closed. I pull the last one through and tie it off.
    “There,” I say proudly. “Give me that.”
    He hands me the wad of paper towels. I dab the wound, getting rid of the excess blood, then dump more peroxide over it.
    My phone vibrates. I check it. A text from Alicia:
    On my way!
    Shit, this isn’t good , I think.
    “Be right back. Stay here,” I say, rushing from the room. I instantly dial Alicia. She answers after the first ring.
    “Hey, have you left yet?” I ask her.
    “No, not yet, why?”
    I sigh heavily, “I’m not gonna need you tonight. I’m so sorry, I hope you didn’t cancel any plans.”
    “No, that’s okay. My friends are going to Johnson’s, I’ll just meet up with them. You’re not going in?”
    “Yeah, I’m just not feeling well. I’ll make it up later in the week.”
    “Oh, okay. Well I hope you feel better!” She is always so cheery.
    “Thanks, Alicia. Have a nice night out!”
    “Okay, bye!”
    I hang up and let out a deep breath. This is the last thing I need. Not only do I have a strange man in my house, a