“I know,” Jase told him, affection clear in his tone. “You were lucky Sienna was with you when it happened.”
“True dat,” Declan said, nodding.
Sienna stifled a laugh and glanced at Jase.
“Overmedicated,” he said in a stage whisper.
Declan laughed. “No such thing.”
Sienna felt a strange sense of happiness bubble up in her chest. It was surreal to be here with her dad and brother, a family gathered when someone needed help, making light of a situation that had clearly scared all of them.
“How do you feel?” She let go of his hand and moved the chair closer to the bed.
“Like a herd of cattle trampled over my chest.” He shrugged. “Pretty normal.”
“You shouldn’t make light of it. Jase said they’ve talked to you about diet and exercise. You need to comply with the doctor’s orders.”
Declan looked past her to Jase. “Did you pay her to say all that?”
“She cares,” Jase answered, “even though you probably don’t deserve it.”
“I definitely don’t,” her father agreed.
“I care,” Sienna murmured, still surprised to find it was true. Not just because she felt guilty that she’d been arguing with her father when he collapsed. She wanted him to be well. She wanted a chance at some kind of relationship with both of these men. The feeling of abandonment that had been her companion for so long was slowly fading, replaced by the bright glow of her newly forged connection.
Her father met her gaze for a long moment, his blue eyes tired but tender as he seemed to drink her in.
“You two should go,” he said gruffly. “You’ve seen that I’m gonna make it. Go home and get some rest.”
“I’ll stay for a bit,” Sienna said immediately. “Jase can go. He’s been here all day.”
Jase rubbed a hand over his whiskered jaw. “Are you sure? I can—”
“Your sister will stay,” Declan said, and Jase gave a small smile, seeming pleased by his father’s use of the wordsister.
Sienna was secretly pleased, as well. She appreciated this unfamiliar sense of belonging.
Jase gave her a short, somewhat less awkward hug than before, then squeezed his father’s shoulder. “Rest,” he said. “You’ve got a new granddaughter to meet in a few weeks, so you’ll need plenty of energy.”
“I promise,” Declan answered, and Jase left the room.
“You want to talk more about all the things I did wrong?” her dad asked when they were alone.
“Of course not. You’re in a hospital bed.”
He raised a brow. “It’s the perfect location. I can’t leave and they’ve got paddles all over this place if things go south.”
“That’s morbid.”
“And a joke.”
“At least I know I didn’t get my sense of humor from you.” She adjusted her dress, then picked an invisible piece of lint from the fabric. “Thanks for not dying.”
“Your sense of humor has hope after all.” He waved a finger at her. “Why are you all dolled up tonight?”
“I was out to dinner when Jase texted to say you’d woken.”
“With Cole Bennett?”
