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“Hey, man,” Cap says.
Royce nods, smashing his lips to the side as he steps closer. “Oh, we’re bright-eyed today huh, fucker?” he teases. “And still as pretty as a Ken doll, brother. Even in the fucked up looking rag they’ve got on ya.” He grins.
Cap starts to chuckle, but it cuts off on a hiss. He picks up a little button thing at his side and presses it.
“What is that?” I ask him.
“Nurse said it releases medicine when I push it, but it won’t allow me to overdo it.”
I nod, looking to the IV drip beside him.
Royce leans over, kissing my forehead, then pushes his forehead against Captain’s before he stands.
“You need something?” Royce asks him.
Cap nods, the corner of his lips lifting.
“Let me go see Zoey,” Royce says. “She met me already. I can play ball with her, show her some pics of you on my phone or something.”
“Royce hasn’t left since you got here,” I tell Captain.
“I could use the fresh air, and I’m pretty sure I’m her new favorite anyway.”
Captain shakes his head goodheartedly, then reaches out to grip his hand. “She’d love that. Maybe Maddoc will go with you?”
When Royce’s glare shifts over Cap’s head, Cap looks to me wearily.
“What?” he draws out slowly.
“We haven’t seen him since he walked out of the school that day. We can’t find him.”
Captain’s stare flies to Royce who avoids my eyes.
He licks his lips, running his hand down his mouth quickly. “Yeah, we uh, everyone’s looking for him.”
Captain’s head drops back against the pillow and he nods.
His blinks get slower, longer, and I know he’s about to knock out again, so I hit the nurse’s call switch.
She enters right as the grip of Cap’s fingers lessens, his hand falling to my side.
I gently shift to stand, my eyes narrowing on Royce who scratches the back of his head as he steps back.
“Royce.”
“If I go, you need to make sure you stay here. We can’t both leave him here.”
“Royce.”
“And here.” He continues to ignore me, pulling a phone from his pocket, pushing it into my chest. “I’m tired of not being able to call you when I need to.”
“I don’t want to be reachable at all times.”
This time his eyes slice to mine. “Too fucking bad, Raven,” he growls in my face. “You wanna run off, handle shit without me, with Bass fucking Bishop, fucking fine. Do your thing, but you’ll do it where I can at least breathe while you’re gone.”
My heartstrings tighten. “Royce.” I step closer, placing my hand on his chest.
His eyes soften.
“I don’t wanna do anything without you, but I needed you here with Captain. He needed you more than I did.”
“Why is that?” Royce whispers. “How come you don’t need me like you need them?” His dark eyes turn somber. “Do I not make you feel the same way they do?”
My chest compresses. “Why would you say that?”
“You left me here, baby girl.” He tucks my hair behind my ears. “Went off on your own, trusted someone else to have your back. I’d die for you, Raven, without a second thought.”
“Exactly,” I whisper, and his brows pull in. “I took Maddoc from this family, thought I took Cap. How could I live with myself if I took you, too? You were all that was left standing, and I needed you to stay that way. I needed to know if I came back to find Maddoc gone forever, Cap never waking up, I’d still have you.” I swallow. “You think you can’t live without me? Well, I would refuse to without you.”
Deep creases take over Royce’s forehead and he gives a curt nod before tugging me against him. After a moment, his chest inflates with a deep inhale, his warm exhale helping my muscles relax.
I squeeze him tighter.
“I love you, RaeRae.”
“I know, and I love you too.” I pull back, looking up at him.
He slips the phone in my palm, closing my fingers around it. “You need to set a password, do it soon. It’s got a ton of apps, enough to keep you busy trying to learn it while I’m gone.”
“It’s two in the morning, Royce. She’s sleeping.”
He looks away. “I’ll be there to cook Zoey pancakes.”
“Does she like pancakes?”
He looks to the floor. “I don’t know. Maybe I’ll stop, get a chocolate sprinkle donut and maple bar, huh? She can pick which she likes better?” He gives a small smile.
I nod. “I got twenty dollars on the maple bar.”
He gives a small chuckle, looks to Captain then spins for the door.
“Don’t tell him about my mom,” I rush out.
Royce’s entire body tenses, his hand freezing on the door.
Tears fill my eyes, but I don’t blink, forcing them to dry where they sit.
After a minute his head drops, and he gives a regretful nod.
He found him.
