It’s not noticeable to the eye, but her body tenses in my arms before she nods, wipes her nose with the sleeve of her sweatshirt, and finally lifts her gaze to mine. “Will you call if anything happens?”
I want to glue her to my side and tell the hospital rules to fuck off, but I can’t risk upsetting anyone and getting kicked out. Not when Miles is so vulnerable.
“You know I will.”
She dips her chin, but I catch it with a finger, lift her face to mine, and place a gentle kiss on her forehead. Her body sags against me only momentarily before she spins in place and allows Stella to lead her to the chair where all her stuff is. I nod in thanks, then go in search of the nurse’s station.
When I enter the recovery area, I find Miles hooked up to machines but sleeping peacefully.
“I’m here, buddy,” I say, placing my hand over his. “You gave us all quite the scare.” Leaning in, I place my lips on his forehead and breathe him in for long minutes. The tiny puff of air that escapes his mouth hits my chin, and I allow it to comfort me.
He’s breathing. He’s going to be fine.
Eventually, I pull a chair closer so I can sit next to him, and I sit, watching him sleep.
A couple of hours later, we’re moved to a private room, and a new nurse comes in to check his vitals, then assures me he’s doing great.
“Your friend is still in the waiting room. Apparently, she refused to leave. Someone named Beck called and asked that we relay that message to you.”
The ache in my chest roars.
She stayed.
20
CARING IS A GIFT
ROWAN
Iwake with a start when strong hands touch me. My eyes fly open, and I tense, ready to protect myself, when Sebastian’s easy smile comes into view.
“Shh,” he whispers, lifting me into his arms. “Your neck is going to hurt like hell if you sleep curled up that way any longer.”
I hadn’t meant to fall asleep, but I forgot how exhausting it is to give yourself over to a full-body cry.
“Miles,” I say, stiffening and wiggling in his arms until he finally sets me on my feet, but he keeps me close.
“I’m taking you to him,” he says.
“But…” Oh, crap. Please don’t cry again. “I’m not family.” Those words have been causing so much anguish for hours, and I don’t know how to process that.
“You stayed,” he says, his voice rough as commercial-grade sandpaper. “I’d love to see them try to take you away now.” Then he takes my hand in his and leads me through a maze of hallways.
“I needed to know that he was okay. I… It’s my fault for not noticing he wasn’t feeling well earlier.”
He stops abruptly, and I stumble into him. Curling up in the fetal position on a hospital chair was probably not my smartest move. All of my limbs are stiff, making me more wobbly than normal.
“It’s not your fault,” he says vehemently. Then he bends at his knees, so we’re nose to nose. “The doctor said it would have been almost impossible to detect any sooner than we did. Even if he had pain earlier, we would have assumed he had a stomach bug first.”
I don’t reply because it was my job to take care of him and while he slept on my lap, I was too busy freaking out over stupid family dynamics.
Thankfully, Sebastian doesn’t press and takes my hand in his, or tries to. I’m still clutching a piece of paper between my fingers.
Holding it up, I hand it to him. “I—I made you my emergency contact.”
Sebastian’s entire face shines with emotion. “I see that,” he says quietly as he scans the form I handed him. He gently folds up the piece of paper the nurse gave me and puts it in his back pocket. “Thank you for this, Rowan. I don’t think you have any idea how much it means to me.”
Does he know how monumental it is for me too? Holding my hand tightly in his, he pulls me down the hallway and into Miles’s room.
