Raul looked down at the half-melted candy bar he gripped, and Balta walked over to squat in front of him. “Where is the bear who growled at me about this?”
He chuckled softly. “That was for you, the advice, Balta.”
Still, his lover was right. He needed to relax and believe. Joa was healthy, young, and the medicine was good here.
“The other waiting room is quieter.” Balta tugged him up, leading him to their new waiting room. “I want you to eat something. You’re not as fond of sweets. What can we get you?”
“This is good. There are peanuts.”
“Then eat it.” Balta squeezed his shoulder with one hand. “Please. I need you with me.”
“Sempre.” Always. “What did Doc Madding say?”
“He said he will oversee the surgery. The surgeon is a man he trusts. Then he wants to move Joa to Dallas where he can work with him.”
“Dallas. Dallas is Texas, at least. His mother will be pleased.”
“Sim. I will get her a hotel room. Coop got us one. A block away.”
Raul blinked. Had so much time passed?
That was the hospital. Time moved differently in here, swelling and shrinking. Raul felt numb, his hands clenched and his butt asleep. He wanted… Well, he wanted all sorts of things, including to take Balta away and hold onto him until Joa got out of surgery.
That they couldn’t do. Once they saw Joa after, once they knew Joa was awake and aware, then they would sleep, hold each other.
Balta knew what he was thinking. Raul saw it in those dark demon eyes. “Later,” Balta said, then nodded at Eduardo,breaking off to go explain something to someone. Always looking out for the other riders.
He closed his eyes and began to pray—for Joa, for Joa’s family, for Balta and him and the doctors. That was all he could do right now, but Raul was good at praying.
