I frown. “Not really. I remember standing in the middle of the room, and then, like always, it just goes blank. The only thing I recall is being dragged across the floor before I was out.They gave me the good drugs right after I got to the ED, so that’s all a blur too.”
Teddy writes that all down. “Anything else?”
My cheeks get hot. “Last night, North reminded me that I needed to be careful with the candles, and I wasn’t. You can list it as my fault if you want.”
Teddy puts the notepad down and leans forward, snatching my hand. “Having a seizure was not your fault. Yes, there were too many candles, but this was an accident, okay?”
My chest feels a little tight. “I won’t do anything like that again.”
Teddy squeezes my hand hard. “I know.”
The moment sits quietly, and then he lets me go and leans back in the chair. “Are you doing okay now?”
“You need that for your report?”
He laughs. “No, I’m asking as your friend. You look like you’re in pain.”
“It’s not that bad,” I lie. “I need to find somewhere to live for a while, and that sucks, but my feet will heal.”
“Oh. I have a room if—” Teddy begins, but North immediately stops him.
“Easton and I have that figured out already.”
Teddy lifts both brows and looks at North for a long time—and oh shit. He knows. I catch a little smile tugging at the corners of his mouth when he looks back at me. “Well, if you change your mind, or if your plans fall through, call me.” He stands up and brushes his hands down his jeans before gathering his notepad. “I should go. North, you’re hanging out here, right?”
North clears his throat, looking oddly sheepish. His head bows, and a small lock of wavy hair falls over his forehead before he looks up so Teddy can see his lips. “Yeah. Until Easton’s finished with Cam.”
Teddy offers him his fist to bump, and then he turns to me and winks. “Let me know when you’re sprung. We’ll hang out.”
I nod, not trusting myself to say anything as he heads out.
North stares at me, then takes a step forward before taking one back. “Uh…sorry about that. If you want to stay with Teddy, you totally can.”
I frown. The pain in my feet is agony now, but fixating on North is helping me stay distracted. “What plan did you and Easton figure out?”
He rubs the back of his neck, and fuck, why do I like it so much when he does that? Maybe it’s because he always blushes when he does it. I feel an uncontrollable urge to reach for him, and it’s in that moment that I realize I don’t need to control it.
I hold my hand out, and he comes easily. His fingers slip between mine, careful of the IV, and he does what he did before. He lifts my palm to his lips and kisses it.
His five-o’clock shadow is rough against my fingertips, his lips soft and warm, and the kiss lingers and lingers, like he doesn’t want it to stop.
“Tell me about this plan,” I repeat.
He lets out a sigh through his nose, then drops my hand, though he doesn’t let go. He leans on the bed railing and meets my gaze before his eyes fall down to my lips, like maybe he wants to kiss me. I try to ignore the disappointment when he doesn’t.
“I have space,” he finally says.
I frown at him. “You have space?”
“I know my house is a total shithole—and I know you’re used to living nicer than that. And hell, your brother told me about the settlement you got. We both know you could afford a cushy rental, and you don’t need to stay with me, but?—”
Oh.Oh! “Are you offering me your house?”
He swallows heavily. “Um. Well, a room there, yes.”
My entire body jolts, and I don’t know what my face does, but North definitely misreads it because he lets me go and takes a step back.
“I knew it was a terrible idea. I was hoping to fix my place up before I invited anyone to stay there, but?—”
