Hope recoils in defense. “You know I love my sister.”
“I’m just saying to take a leaf out of her book.”
Sylvie clears her throat. “So, do you forgive us, or what?”
I bite my lip, turning to the unconscious boy I love, and then back at my so-called friends. “I repeatedly asked you two to have my back, and you didn’t come through.”
Sylvie lets out a nervous laugh. “So, is that a no?”
“It’s anot right now.”
“I don’t blame you,” Hope bites her lip. “Because there’s one more thing.”
I tense up. “What?”
Hope claws at her long chestnut hair. “Well, I was with Luke when I heard the news. And, umm, he was chatting with LJ.”
I slouch with dread. “So LJ might be on his way over?”
Hope winces. “Yep. Sorry.”
“You know, I’ll consider the slate cleared if you two stick around and run interference in the halls,” I reply. “I don’t want to deal with LJ, especially when Dax is in recovery.”
“We can do that.” Sylvie leans forward, checking out Dax. “How’s he doing?”
“I don’t know yet. Dr. Harris was quietly optimistic, but he also mentioned a potential coma and kidney damage.”
Sylvie hisses. “Yikes.”
“I can’t believe I thought you’d be so perfect with LJ.” Hope sniffles. “I’ve never seen you look at him the way you do this guy.”
I look up at her. “His name is Dax.”
She nods. “Right. Dax.”
Sylvie lightly touches my arm. “We’ll give you some space. And we’ll watch out for LJ.”
“Thank you so much.”
They both wave and leave the room.
I pat my eyes dry and watch Dax sleep. As the wetness stains my fingertips, a silly thought enters my mind. He woke up when my teardrops hit his eyelashes. Could that happen again?
Before I can put the fairytale-esque theory to the test, footsteps pound into the room and irritation pings throughout my nervous system.
“LJ, stop before you even,” I growl, turning in my seat. My annoyance diminishes at the sight of my brother. “Oh, Ash.”
Ash rushes over, wrapping his arms around me as I sit. “You’re such an idiot, but I love you so dang much.”
I hug him back. “Thanks, I guess.”
He rubs a knuckle into my hair. “Seriously. Who walks into a biker bar?”
I swat him away from my hair, smoothing it back. “I knew he wasn’t safe.”
Ash nods, looking over at Dax. “So, he was worth it, huh?”
“He is more than worth it.”
