“He hasn’t even shown his face yet. I thought he’d be up in our business the second we got here, but nope.”
“I’m sure he’ll make an appearance before long,” I said, not bothering to conceal my bitterness. “So, where are the others?”
“Hunt woke up first. Well, long after Brady, who was only out for a few hours.”
I whistled. “A few hours?”
He nodded, his dark hair shifting atop his head. The strands stood up in parts, suggesting he’d been running his fingers through them over and again.
“That’s some superhero shit,” I whispered with a mixture of reverence and astonishment. “What the fuck, Griff?”
“Yeah, trust me, I know. I’m the one who had to watch you all come back. Layla came to a couple hours later. It took them a while, but once Hunt and Lay were able to be wheeled around, they all came here to wait for you. But …”
“But what?”
“But you’ve been out for three days.”
I blinked at him. “Seriously?”
He nodded, eyes heavy, revealing how exhausted he actually was. “They woke up that same day, that night. You … didn’t.”
He ran his fingers along the seam of his jeans, picking at it. “I haven’t left your side except to do quick checks on the others.”
Careful not to dislodge the IV needle, I placed my hand atop his. “I’m sorry.”
He jerked his gaze up to mine. “What the hell do you have to be sorry for? It’s the billionaire asshole who’s gonna get every ounce of my wrath the second I lay eyes on him.”
I rubbed my thumb across the back of his hand. “You thought I might not come back?”
He didn’t respond at first, following the movement of my finger across his skin. Then, he nodded jerkily.
“It crossed my mind a few thousand times.”
“That’s what I’m sorry for,” I said. “I remember all too well what it felt like to think I might’ve lost you. Shit, I won’t ever forget it.” More softly: “Though I hope I do. It was the worst moment of my life.”
Wow. Way to diss Brady, Joss.
He’d died too. And then we hadn’t yet known he’d come back to life, which made his death terrifyingly horrid. But believing I’d never see Griffin’s smile again was worse even than seeing a stick of rebar the circumference of my arm spearing Brady’s chest.
Griffin only nodded, seemingly lost in his own thoughts. Eventually, he squeezed my hand as if coming to some internal conclusion. “Layla said she couldn’t stand another second of ‘ick’ and a hospital gown that showed her ass and left for her room to ‘uncrustify.’ Her words. Hunt and Brady went with her.”
Finally, a spark of that usual playfulness lit his tired eyes. “I think Brade was gonna try to help her take a sponge bath.”
I spit out a laugh before choking around my still-tender throat. After another sip of water, I smiled, aware the gesture felt somewhat forced. Wasn’t it wrong to laugh and smile when things had been so terribly tragic recently? Even if they’d had a lively ending?
Griffin’s smile was weary but real. “With how freaked out he’s been, he might actually go through with it. You shoulda seen him, Joss—he was frantic with the thought of losing her. Hunt, too, obviously. But it’s like Brady finally realized how lucky he is to have a twin.”
I leaned my head back on the pillows, gazing up at the ceiling—painted a smooth, understated cream to match the carpet. “Heislucky.” I looked back at Griff. “We’re all lucky to have each other.”
I’m lucky to haveyou. The admission hovered on my tongue, eager for me to share it aloud. I couldn’t bring myself to do it. Not after what I’d said in the gym. Not after what I’d already done.
Griffin slid nearer and bent forward so his face was only inches away from mine. He gripped my fingers harder, sliding our joined hands onto his thigh.
This close, his eyes seemed to swirl, entrancing me.
My heart beat faster, and I was grateful the heart-rate monitor was silent, or else Griffin would know the effect he was having on me. I swallowed around my tender throat and became overly aware of my breaths—deep with anticipation.
My nerves jumped, overshadowing the otherwise overwhelming ache that weighed down my entire body, as if I’d been shot everywhere at once instead of just my chest. The desire to rub at my wounds was gone. There was only him.
