Shaw took his hand from Riley’s and ran it over his face.
The doctor continued talking to Shaw and Riley about what was planned for the next day or two and when he could be expected to leave. Shaw stared at his blanket, a grim expression on his face. He did this when he didn’t want to hear what was being said to him—it always reminded me of a petulant child.
Dylan’s chin was cradled in his hand, but his leg was shaking with impatience as he studied his brother.
I glanced at Dylan and whispered, “You’re being awfully quiet.”
He shrugged. “Just waiting.”
“For what?—”
Riley was full of nervous energy. Shifting and fidgeting, she jumped when her cell phone rang. “Oh, baby, it’s my agent,” she exclaimed as if it were Christmas morning and Santa was calling. “I’ll be right back.”
Dylan stepped forward and began asking questions about his restrictions—driving and the limitations of using his arm and shoulder. I asked about the kind of PT he would need and the follow-up schedule. The doctor smiled at both of us. “You seem to have a hell of a team working for you already, Mr. Shawfield.”
Dylan laughed. “We don’t work for him. I’m his brother,” he said.
“Is she his sister?” A pretty intern gestured to me.
“Definitely not.” Dylan let out a surprise laugh. “There is no brotherly love there.”
I stepped away, going back to sit and stay out of everyone’s way. What was I doing here anyway? I knew I shouldn’t have come. I stared at my useless phone, trying to find a graceful way out of there.
An intern finished typing some notes on the keyboard by Shaw’s bed as the doctor headed toward the door. At his obviously glum look, she added, “It’s best you stay for another day or two. We have people whose entire career revolves around pain management. If we send you home, it will be with Tylenol.” She clapped the guy at the computer on the shoulder and looked over at Shaw. “I’ll come by and check on you later today. Let the nurses know if you need anything. It’s nice to have you here—even if Carolina beat Baltimore.” With a quick smile, she was gone, her entourage shuffling quietly after her.
As soon as the door closed, Dylan turned on me. “Kelcie—jeez, you look like someone kicked your dog. I was just joking. I meant you’re not family because he never thought of you as a sis?—”
“Dylan, just shut up,” Shaw groaned.
Dylan sat beside me and quietly added, “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it?—”
I patted his arm. Being the younger brother, Dylan often teased Shaw and me about the time we spent together. “Shaw and Kelcie sitting in a tree…k-i-s-s-i-n-g…” and all the things little brothers do. “It’s okay. I know what you meant. But enough years have passed, and I think teasing him about me has had its time. You can give it a rest.”
Dylan winked and whispered to me, “Never.”
The door burst open, and Grace and Aaron barged in. “Shaw. Shaw. Are you okay?” My son ran past me and straight up to Shaw’s bedside, scanning everything around him but not quite looking at him.
“Yeah, my man, I’m fine,” he said. “Come on over here and tell me about the game.”
“We left when you got hurt,” my son said matter-of-factly.
“Yes, but did you like the game?”
“Until you got hurt. Yes. I liked it a lot,” Aaron said and nodded emphatically.
Riley stormed through like a whirlwind, her hands flapping. “Oh. My. God. Baby!”
She pushed past Aaron and threw herself at Shaw, forgetting all about his sling. He grimaced in pain.
Dylan pulled Riley back off Shaw. She stumbled in her heels and adjusted herself. “I’m sorry, I forgot myself. I’m just about to burst!”
Shaw shifted in his bed, and I reached for the controller to lower it for him. He gave me a grateful nod before turning back to his girlfriend.
“What is it, babe?”
She began jumping in her stilettos, clasping her hands to her chest, and screamed piercingly, “I got the part!”
Shaw’s head tilted slightly, his brows drew together, all his concentration on the bouncing woman. “Part? What part?”
