But Tom’s awake. Safe. Alive.
That’s a smallfuck youto Gael and his men.
The off-beat thud of approaching footsteps warns me that Warner is near. His gait is entirely unique. I avoided his gaze when I arrived with Axel, leaving them in the ICU’s waiting area.
“Ember?”
Turning to face him, I reluctantly move away from Tom’s hospital room to meet Warner in the middle of the long corridor. He tentatively scans over me, blue gaze brimming with a confusing blend of concern and reluctance.
“Hi.”
“Hey,” he returns.
An awkward silence pulses between us.
“They let you in yet?”
“No.” I shake my head, teeth gritted tight. “Could be a while.”
“I see.”
His clipped tone causes the hair on my arms to spike. God, I fucking hate it when he talks to me like I’m a client. Still I bite my tongue and study his stoic mask, lined with exhausted grooves beneath a crop of mussed, silver-flecked hair.
Even his form-fitting black t-shirt and cargos are rumpled, body weight visibly lurching to one side as he leans on his good left leg. My heart wrings, aching with the need to inch closer.
“I have someone for you to meet in the waiting area.”
“Who is it?” Confusion causes my brows to dip.
“Jamie. Tom’s boyfriend.”
“Oh, crap!”
I’m officially the worst person ever for not even considering him in all this chaos. Warner must read the panic on my expression, his features softening with understanding.
“It’s okay. I’ve been keeping him up to speed for the past couple of weeks. We’ve met a few times over the years. He wasn’t kept in the dark.”
“You did that for me?”
“Tom isn’t just your responsibility,” Warner deflects like it’s nothing. “I took care of it.”
Appreciation warms my cold shell. “Thanks.”
“Don’t mention it.”
“I can’t believe I forgot him.” I cringe at my own selfishness.
“You’ve had a lot on your mind,” he empathises. “Don’t beat yourself up about it.”
“Too much to make a quick phone call?”
“Relax, Em. He’s fine.”
Scrubbing a hand down my face, I wince when I hit one of the yellowing bruises. Warner watches me warily, his handoutstretched like he wants to touch me but can’t find the bravery to do it.
“You always think of everything.”
He rolls his lips, seemingly weighing a response. “I told you that you don’t have to do this alone.”
