Page 162 of Captivated
Where is he?
He scanned the hallway for someone to ask. Thankfully, a nurse emerged from ICU.
“Mr. Thorston? Toby’s been moved to the Surgical wing.”
Relief swamped him. “Where’s that?”
She smiled. “I’ll take you to him.”
He walked at her side along the hallway. “This is good news, isn’t it?”
“Yes, it is. He’s stable. Now we work on getting him up and moving slowly.” When they reached the elevator, she glanced at him. “You understand it could take weeks for him to be back on his feet, don’t you?”
Robert nodded.
“What might hamper his recovery is the extent of his injuries. We’ll be doing all we can not to overload his chest.”
The doors slid open and they got onto the elevator.
Robert’s stomach clenched.
I want him home. Healthy and happy.
He just had to be patient.
The nurse stopped at a door. “He’s in here.”
He thanked her and pushed the door open.
Toby was the room’s sole occupant. He was sitting up in bed, a mask covering his nose and mouth, and Robert caught the fainthissof oxygen. His plastered arm was supported, and there were dressings on his chest. What skin Robert could see was a mass of bruises, and a thin tube emerged from under the sheet, leading to a plastic bag filled with pale yellow liquid, secured to the bed.
Robert winced.He won’t like having a catheter.He figured that was something to do with watching what he peed: the doctor had mentioned something about fluid retention. Then he realized Toby wasn’t breathing too deeply.
Toby’s gaze met his, and despite the mask, Robert saw his smile.
“Hey.” It was barely a whisper.
Robert walked over to him and took Toby’s hand in his. “Hey you.” He gazed at their surroundings. “This is a step in the right direction. We’ll have you back at the ranch and riding Lightning in no time,” he quipped.
Toby rolled his eyes. A faint frown creased his brow. “Zeeb?”
“I saw him this morning. He’s doing okay. Nate is looking after him.”
An air of exhaustion clung to Toby, and Robert didn’t want to add to it. He reached into the bag he’d brought and removed Toby’s Kindle. “I thought I might read to you.” He smiled. “You get to choose the book. Although I’d recommendnotchoosing a thriller or a horror story. You want something calmer.” He smirked. “I addedClifford the Big Red Dogand a few other classics. Perfect for relaxing.”
Another eye-roll.
Robert opened the Kindle to the library, and passed it to Toby. “If you make me read a romance, I will never forgive you.”
Toby smiled again. “Nothing wrong with romance,” he whispered. He peered at the screen, then stabbed at a cover with his finger.
Robert took the Kindle back. “That one, huh?” He blinked. “The Hobbit? Seriously?”
The skin around Toby’s eyes crinkled.
“I suppose I should be grateful you didn’t chooseLord of the Rings. You like this kind of book?” Robert shook his head. “Two years together, and I’m only discovering this now.”
And when he got Toby home where he belonged, Robert would make it his mission to learn more about his partner, lover, and Dom.
