I squeezed his hand. “I’ll go when they take you to surgery.”
He squeezed my fingers back. “Thank you.”
“Is there anything else you need from home?” I asked.
He blinked hard. “Um… I… damn it,” he bit out. My eyebrows went up. He practically cursed. “I can’t think. Stupid meds.” He closed his eyes, frowning.
I carefully sat down on the edge of the bed facing him. “It’s okay, sweetie, I’ll bring you a set of clothes just in case.”
Asher leaned forward and picked up a bag from under the bed. He opened it and rifled through its contents. “He’ll need new clothes, these are covered in blood.”
I closed my eyes as I wondered how much blood it would take to ruin clothes. I’m sure I didn’t want to know. Miles squeezed my hand, bringing my attention back.
“Thank you,” he muttered.
“No problem,” I assured him.
The curtain was drawn back. “Miles Huntington, it’s time for surgery,” a man announced.
Miles squeezed my hand again.
“I’ll go get your things,” I told him, my voice fraying at the edges. I leaned down and kissed his cheek. “If your surgeon fucks up, I’m slashing their tires,” I whispered softly into his ear. He gave me a small smile as I pulled away. Hating to leave him, but needing a minute, I left Miles’ sectioned off area and headed out of the ER without another word.
By the time I reached the Blazer, I was shaking. I took deep breaths and focused on the fact that they were okay. They were alive and breathing. It took several minutes before I could start the truck and drive over to Miles’ house.
I pulled to a stop in front of the house. Going over what Miles might like at the hospital, I unlocked the door and turned off the alarm.
It wasn’t long before I was in Miles’ bedroom. The room was black for the fiber optic stars in the ceiling. One wall was completely bookcases, and another a large corner desk with multiple computers and monitors. Finding Miles’ closet, I opened it and tried not to move too many things as I found his book bag. I went to his dresser and pulled out a pair of loose mesh workout shorts and one of his loose gamer shirts. I hesitated at his top drawer. It had to be his underwear drawer, since I had already found everything else. Well, he was going to need a pair. I opened the drawer and found two different kinds. Short boxer briefs, and boxers. Okay… An image flashed of Miles in nothing but… I picked a pair of both and shoved them into the bag before I quickly closed the drawer. I didn’t need to remember him almost naked. Making sure to grab a pair of his slip-on sandals, I zipped up the bag and moved to the right nightstand.
As I wondered how Miles was doing in surgery, I opened the drawer and found his extra glasses case. My fingers brushed paper. Curious, I looked at the folded paper. It had to have been read many times, it was wrinkled to hell and back. It was just sitting there… so tempting. Curiosity nudged at me. Determined not to look, I got up, grabbed the bag, and went to the bookshelf. I pulled out a few books Miles’ might like if he felt like reading. Then I was rushing out the door to get back to the hospital.
Waiting at the hospital sucked. There wasn’t any other way to say it. It just sucked. I shifted in my chair and turned the page of Mary Shelley’s ‘Frankenstein.’ Ethan had been discharged a couple hours ago, so he was sitting beside me playing a game on his phone. Maria was pacing the waiting room. Isaac, who had finished training, was to my right, quiet as can be.
I put my book down. “You okay, Cookie Monster?”
He nodded. “Yeah.”
I didn’t buy it. His eyes had dark shadows underneath, and he was bouncing his knee. I leaned closer and rested my head on his shoulder. His knee stopped bouncing. “He’ll be okay,” I reminded him.
His shoulders stiffened. “Yeah, sure.” His voice was clipped and strained. I wrapped my arm around his and squeezed to get his attention. Those amber eyes found mine. I gave him a small smile.
“Hey, they’re okay,” I reminded him.
His shadowed eyes softened a little. “I know. No thanks to me.”
I frowned up at him. “What do you—”
“Ms. Turner?” A woman walked in wearing scrubs. Everyone turned to her.
Maria strode over. “How is he? Is he awake? Will he have full function of his arm?”
The doctor smiled. “He is fine. The surgery was flawless, no complications. He should have a full recovery in the next six to eight weeks,” she announced. I sagged against Isaac’s shoulder. “Since we did have to operate he will be spending the night with us, especially with the hit to the head. He’s in room two-three-two on the second floor if you’d like to see him.”
Everyone got to their feet and started for the door, leaving Maria behind to grill the doctor. Isaac and I fell into step behind Asher and Zeke. When we hit the stairs, I glanced up at him.
“What did you mean?” I asked.
“What?” He pulled a little ahead as we turned a corner in the stairwell.
“In the waiting room, you said, ‘no thanks to me?’” I kept my voice quiet.
“Nothing, forget about it,” he muttered as he pulled ahead and reached the second floor before me. By the time I stepped through the door, he was already down the hall with the others. Strange. I followed at my own speed; short leg speed. Ethan, realizing I wasn’t with them, stopped and waited for me.
“We lost you, huh?” Ethan asked with a grin.
“Yep, you guys were going the ‘we forgot Lexie is short’ speed,” I teased. He chuckled as we turned the corner and found Miles’ room.
I pulled Ethan to a stop carefully. “I think your brother is upset,” I whispered. He stepped closer so his ear was next to my lips, his arm sliding around my waist. My skin warmed. I reminded myself to breath.
“Why?” he asked softly.
“He said something… I told him you guys were going to be okay. And he said, ‘no thanks to me.’” I pulled back to see his face.
He didn’t seem surprised. “I’ll check on him.”
“Thanks,” I whispered. He squeezed my waist before turning and heading into the room. I followed.
Zeke was against the wall opposite the door. Asher was next to Miles’ bed on the right wall. Isaac was against the wall near the door. Ethan walked in and sat down in the only chair in the corner of the room. Miles was half sitting up in bed again, squinting as Asher spoke to him. His left arm was in a white cast, held in a sling against his chest.
I pulled Miles’ glasses out of the bag and moved to the right side, beside Asher. I put the case in Miles’ hand.
Miles turned to me still squinting. “Thank you.”
“You’re welcome.” I squeezed his hand and pulled the bag off my shoulder. “I brought you some shorts, a shirt and sandals for when you go home.” I set the bag down on the bed.
“Shorts sound like a good idea,” Miles admitted, voice tired.
“And that’s my cue to leave,” I announced. The guys chuckled.
“I can go in the bathroom,” Miles offered, his ears tinting pink.
“Not with a hit to the head,” I countered. “Don’t worry, I’ll pick up some drinks.” I headed for the door.
It wasn’t long before I was back with an armful of sodas and waters.
“Are you sure?” Maria’s voice asked from behind the curtain. “Alright.” Maria came out of the hospital room, closing the curtain behind her. She smiled when she spotted me. “They’re getting him dressed now.”
“Then I’ll stay outside,” I said. She chuckled as she stepped out of the room.
“How are you doing, honey?” she asked quietly
I smiled. “I’m worried about Ethan’s back, and, well, Miles.” I looked over her shoulder at the curtain. And I was starting to worry about Isaac. He’d been off for a couple of days now.
“Ethan will be okay, his doctor has already changed his pain meds,” she reassured me, “though the brat won’t go home until Miles does.”
I smiled up at her. “I’ll make sure he takes care of himself.”