She turns, making her way to the elevator without another word. I don’t even have the energy to call out to her. Alexander drags a hand through his blond, tousled mess of hair, appearing ashamed.
Needing to cool off, I pass Benjamin’s room and drop into a chair with a huff. My blood is racing, my hands trembling in my lap. Facing his mother was no easy feat, but I’d never have forgiven myself if I didn’t stand up for him.
When my flushness has dissipated and my pulse has diminished to a healthy rhythm, I trace my steps back to Benjamin. He opens his eyes when I enter and stares at me. There’s no glower, no anger anywhere on him, so I approach his bedside and take his hand.
“How are you feeling?” I ask, noticing the dark circles surrounding his eyes.
“I’m fine, Darcy. I’m not dying. You know that, right?”
“I’m just worried. The nurse said the wound was looking brutal this morning.”
“It’s fine. It’s supposed to look ugly. It’s going to scar…so are the scars from the defibrillators. They’re permanent.”
I press my lips to his cheek as tenderly as I can. “I don’t care.”
He regards me fondly when I pull back. “I know you don’t.”
I sit down on the edge of the bed, rubbing his leg.
“You shouldn’t let my mother get to you.”
“I just hate seeing someone use you like that.”
“I’m used to it.” He smirks, taking my hand. “When I was shot, years ago, she didn’t show, so I figured this time she wanted something. She’s easy to read.”
“But a million dollars…why didn’t you say no?”
“Because a million dollars is nothing to me, and if it gets her off my backandyours, it will be worth it.”
“And you tell me you’re not generous.”
“You know, you’re pretty sexy when you’re fighting over me.”
“Yeah?” I’m sure I’m glowing. “I thought you’d want to kill me.”
“No. I’m lucky you care so much about my feelings, even though you shouldn’t, at least when it comes to them.”
“They are your family. You’d think it would be common sense to ask, you know, if justmaybeyou got hurt in that accident. I mean, you’ve been here for days…obviously something happened. How could they not even—”
“You’re rambling.”
I smirk, attempting to compose myself.
“I’m guessing Alex saw you before he came in.”
“Yeah, in the cafeteria.”
He waits, and when I don’t expound, he licks his lips, smiling secretively. “You’re not going to tell me.”
“There isn’t much to tell.”
“Well, did he bring up what we spoke about the other day on the boat?”
“Yes.”
He waits patiently. I roll my eyes and continue.
“He brought it up, and I told him what I told you…that I don’t know him and he doesn’t know me and that I’m married to you and there is nothing he can do that would change that.”
