The monitor tattles when I shift, and Artemis startles awake. His eyes are wide, frantic for a split second before they land on me. “Xavi?” His voice is rough, sleep-heavy, laced with fear in a way he’ll probably pretend isn’t anxiety the second he’s fully awake. “You’re awake?”
“Barely,” I croak. “And regretting it.” I wince as the sound of my own voice makes my head thump harder.
He exhales this shaky breath that hits me dead in the chest. “You scared me.” He shakes his head. “You scared everyone. Do you know how hard you went down?”
“Still not ready for the replay yet.”
He squeezes my hand as if checking to make sure I’m real, and he’s actually awake. He’s too close to ignore, and yet not close enough to satisfy the stupid need humming under my skin. He looks at me—really looks—and every sweep of his gaze feels like a hand mapping my bruises.
“Should’ve put the IV somewhere less dramatic.” I wave my hand, because jokes are easier than feelings, especially when he’s looking at me likethat.
“Ah yes. Your famous aversion to dramatics.” He rolls his eyes, making his sister and Scott laugh in the corner.
I want to kiss the sarcasm right out of him. “You could’vegone home.” I’m not accusing but also sort of accusing. “Youshouldhave gone home.”
“We tried.” Scott’s voice isn’t angry, but it’s mixed with something I’m not sure I like. I get it, he’s protective of his best friend and is afraid I’ll steal him away forever. I kinda want to do just that.
Artemis glances down. “I didn’t want to.”
“Why not?”
His throat works. His fingers flex on the bed next to me. He looks everywhere but at me. “Xavier, can we not?—?”
“No.” My voice is quiet but firm, the pounding rhythm in my skull giving me the courage to speak the words I’ve needed to for a while. “I need you to say it, Artemis.”
He closes his eyes like he’s bracing for impact. “I didn’t leave because I…” A pause. A swallow. He forces himself to meet my eyes. “Because I care about you. Obviously.”
Obviously. My brain might be scrambled eggs, but that word sizzles into my skin all the same. “Good.” My voice is softer. “Because I care about you too. A lot. And I’m getting really tired of pretending that’s not the truth.”
He freezes, and for a second so do I. Did I push too far? Then he breathes out, it’s still wobbly.
“It’s not like you almost died, Xavier.”
I’m not sure if he’s trying to convince me, or himself. “I’m still using it,” I shoot back with a slow smile. “Perks of head trauma—emotional clarity.” That earns me the smallest smile, blink-and-you-miss-it. But it’s real, and it’s all mine.
“You’re impossible.” His voice is barely a whisper.
“And you’re still here,” I whisper back.
He looks at me with that soft, terrified, expression he pretends he doesn’t have. “Yeah. I am. There’s nowhere else I’d rather be.”
“Again, we tried.”
Athena digs her elbow into Scott’s ribs, making him puff out a breath and a curse. “Stop ruining the fucking moment, Gizmo.” Her words are hissed through gritted teeth, and if it didn’t hurt to laugh, I’d allow myself the luxury.
“We’re here to take you home.” Athena nails me with a glare that tells me not to argue.
“Wisconsin?” Confusion clouds my mind, and my mouth isn’t moving as quickly as I’d like it to either.
“You’re staying with me for a few days.” It’s Artemis who answers my question.
My surprise must show on my face. Athena smirks.
“Don’t make it a thing,Duende. It makes sense.”
I purse my lips giving him a firm nod while I fight the smile simmering inside. “Sense, right. And we’re all about making sense.”
“You got hit on my ice, you can’t drive, and you need a responsible adult to take care of you for a few days.”
