I felt someone move nearby, and I glanced in the reflection of the machine's glass to see a hulking shape behind me. I was taking a chance assuming, but who else on the floor was not only that damn big, but willing to get that close to me?
"And suddenly, the whole lounge just got a whole lot grumpier," I said, deciding on a bag of Cheetos and punching in the number before tapping my card on the reader. "Did the sounds of joy finally drive you from his bedside?"
He grunted. “Like a cross to a vampire."
I looked over my shoulder, too tired to hide my surprise. "Wow, you took the joke right out of my head. Christ, you look like shit."
"Thanks," he said sourly, and I winced apologetically. Of course, he looked like shit, his best friend had been badly hurt, and there had been a time when it was feared Kayden wouldn'tmake it. Stress, the potential for loss, and sleep deprivation would make anyone look like shit. Hell, I was lucky all I got was a testy reply and a dirty look because Jace, rested and with a normal level of stress, was testy as it was.
"My bad," I muttered, fishing the Cheetos from the machine. "How about some coffee? It looks questionable, but it's probably not going to make anyone sick."
"Can't be any worse than station coffee," he grunted. "Shit tastes like swamp mud mixed with motor oil and left out in the sun."
"Why do you know what swamp mud tastes like?"
"Kayden had it in his head that he wanted to go through the swamp on one of those big fan boats. Turns out, you should make sure the guy driving the thing is sober and checks to make sure you're braced before speeding off so you don't end up flung into the shallow water."
"Please tell me there's a picture."
"Kayden said he deleted it, but he's lying. It's around somewhere, probably going to crop up if I ever get married. He knows it'll end with his painful death, but that's never stopped him being an idiot before."
"He really is a man after my own heart," I said with a laugh, grimacing when I heard an alarm go off in a room and heard the sharp shuffling of non-slip soled shoes approaching it quickly.
Ah, the calming and ever-so-charming sounds of a hospital.
"What are you doing here?” Jace asked softly, and I turned to the coffee machine. Calling it questionable had been underselling it, I thought as I pushed the dispense button to let it dribble into the paper cup. The stuff looked like it had been made a week ago, and the smell was so acrid I was no longer sure it wouldn't make me sick. My stomach wasn't exactly full of food to balance the god-awful brew.
"Clearly making bad choices about coffee," I muttered, swirling it around and taking a sip with a hiss. "God, I've put worse things in my mouth. Not by much, which should tell you a lot."
"That's not what I'm asking, and you know it," he grumbled at me, and I couldn't tell if he was being pissy or just plain uncomfortable. Probably a bit of both, considering there were other people around. Not that anyone seemed to be paying attention.
"Do I know it?" I wondered, debating what I should say. Lying was out of the question; it wasn't in my nature to lie, if only because it took far more effort when you had to keep all the lies straight. Telling him the outright truth wasn't going to cut it either, he would just get pissed at me all over again, and while I wasn't as sleep deprived as he was, I definitely wasn't ready to go toe to toe with him with my lack of sleep. Probably better to stick close to the truth without outright saying it, spare us both another 'lovely' conversation.
Jace growled, and while I could feel his frustration, I couldn't give in to the sympathy that welled up inside me. In fact, he didn't need my sympathy. Kayden was going to be okay, and now he could get some rest and calm down. I had done what I'd come to do, and everyone could go on with their lives.
"Just...can you not give me shit for a moment and tell me?” he asked, and it was only the undercurrent of something softer in his anger that made me hesitate to brush him off.
"Clearly you weren't paying attention when my sister and nephew rolled up here to see you," I said with a shrug. "Can't blame you, you've been a little preoccupied with the fact that Kayden is here."
I risked a glance in his direction, seeing him frowning at the floor. "Right, yeah, I saw them. Where are they?"
"Getting something to eat. They should be back soon, it's been long enough for Micah to pick through everything and eat things in his designated order."
"Yeah, he's weird about food."
"He's weird about a lot of things, in case you didn't notice."
"I noticed."
Ugh, how weird to be weird around him. Even if it was just to antagonize him, at least I’d known how to interact with him before. I quickly regretted not leaving once I knew Kayden was awake, but there was that weird look Moira kept giving me when she'd come out to tell me Kayden was doing alright, and she was giving Jace time to talk to him. Curiosity had clearly gotten the better of me, and now I was stuck talking to a man who couldn't make up his mind if he wanted to talk to me or fuck off.
"So, you brought them?” Jace asked, looking up, eyes darting over my face. It seemed like he was looking for something, hoping for something, but I couldn't figure out what. Then again, I suppose it wasn't my problem anymore. Well, except for the fact that he was clearly looking at me for whatever it was, or at least, that was my gut feeling.
"I did," I told him, leaving out certain details, but again, sticking to the truth.
His eyes swept over me again, shadowed by his frown. "You're doing it again."
"What's that?"
