“Let’s go find out.”
This time the kid lets me lead, his long strides easily keeping up with me.
“She’s with him,” Hugo shares as he watches our approach.“Through the doors and down the hall, third door on your right.”
Linc doesn’t waste any time and darts down the hallway, leaving Hugo and I staring after him.
“Did you get a chance to talk to Remi?”I ask.
“For a few minutes.”Hugo shakes his head.“Insists he fell, but can’t explain how it’s possible he ended up with two eyes swollen shut, a split lip, a laceration on the back of his head, and the mark of a boot print on his side, all with one fall.Stubborn kid is lying about what happened and I’d like to know why.”
“Yeah, the doctor mentioned he claimed to have fallen off his bike.I don’t buy it either,” I concur.“Did Tessa say anything?”
“Not in words, but she gave me a look to drop it for the time being.The kid was pretty tired and uncomfortable.Probably not a good time to push it.It’ll keep ’til tomorrow, unless Tessa has a chance to give it another try later.I should probably head home anyway, get an early start on this tomorrow.What about you?”
“What about me?”
“Are you staying?”
I don’t want to leave, but I’m not sure whether I can be of any more use here.Plus, I guess I have an early start in the morning as well.I don’t want to go without letting Tessa know though.
“I’m just going to check in with them and probably head home too.”
“Well, tell Tessa I’ll be in touch first thing.”
As he walks off, I make my way down the hall toward the patient rooms.The third door on the right is open, and I catch sight of Remi lying in the bed, his face almost unrecognizable from bruising and swelling.Tessa is in a chair beside him, and Linc is at her back, staring at his brother with barely contained rage.Tessa will have to keep an eye on her eldest.
She spots me first and waves me in.I don’t want to intrude though, so I shake my head and motion for her to join me in the hall.I watch as she exchanges a few words with Linc before she slips out of the room.
“Are you heading out?”
“Yeah.I should head home.I’ve got a full schedule tomorrow morning.Besides, all of you could probably use some rest.”
“I guess, although I’m not sure how much sleep we’ll get.”
She blows at another hank of hair escaping from the braid on her back.I reach out and twirl the strand around my index finger before tucking it behind her ear.There’s a shine in those brown eyes she has fixed on me.It might be nothing more than fatigue, but it sure as hell warms my blood.
Not the time or the place, I drop my hand.
“Let me know how he does in the morning.”
“I will,” she promises with a smile.
I turn and start walking to the double doors to the lobby, when I hear my name called.I stop and turn around just in time to catch Tessa, who comes running after me.Her arms wrap around my neck as she presses a hard kiss on my mouth.
“I can’t thank you enough,” she mumbles, her lips moving against mine.
“No need,” I return, not moving an inch.
She’s the first one to drop her arms and take a step back.I’m surprised to see a deep blush on her cheeks.
“I hope I’m not scaring you off again.”
I flash a wide grin.
“Fuck no.”
She smiles back.“Well, in that case…later?”
