“I wasn’t. But don’t get any ideas that your lack of serious complications means you’re cleared for anything other than keeping your ass in the bunker. You lost an obscene amount of blood. If Wynn hadn’t given you a couple pints of Coulter’s…” He sighed, pushing his glasses up the bridge of his nose. “I’ll let Coulter take you back to your room in the morning. But nothing, and I mean nothing, until I give you the all clear.”
Coulter leaned in. “Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she follows the rules.”
Darwin coughed. “Right, like you’ve been doing? Despite not getting shot, you’re not much better off. So, you’ll both keep it low key for the next week or two.”
Darwin shook his head, mumbling to himself about what terrible patients they were as he crossed the room, started flipping through a stack of papers.
Neve relaxed against the bed. “You look like you went ten rounds with Tyson.”
Coulter smiled. “Close, but that’s nothing you have to worry about.”
“Of course I have to worry. It’s in the job description.”
“Which one? Team leader or the woman I plan on spending the rest of my life with?”
His words caught her off-guard, and she had to physically tell herself to close her mouth. Not that they hadn’t said I love you, but hearing him utter them so casually… It made her stomach flutter. Spun the room a few times.
She drew him in close. “Both. And I’m gonna hold you to that last one.”
“Good, because I’m holding you to your promise, too.”
“Still breathing.”
“No thanks to that last shot. You owe me a few years of my life back, by the way. Seeing you lying on that catwalk, knowing you’d get hit… You never should have left the container.”
“I swore I’d always have your back.”
Coulter sighed. “Stubborn. And thanks. I’ll never forget what you did for me.”
“I didn’t do it just for you. I did it for me, too, because there’s no future without you in it.”
“Amen.” He glanced at Darwin, then closed the distance, planted a soft kiss on her lips. “I love you.”
“Love you more.”
“Always a competition with you.” He squeezed her hand. “Sleep. The gang will want to see you in the morning. Might help if you didn’t look as if you were about to pass out.”
“Only if you’ll stay.”
“Wild horses… sweetheart.”
Neve grinned, letting herself fade, Coulter’s hand lulling her into a soothing sleep.
By the time Coulter carried her to their room, propping her back against the headboard, the room seemed brighter, the pain was already half what it had been the day before.
He frowned, shaking his head. “I think it’s too soon. You look like you’re dead, again.”
Neve cocked her head to the side. “I’m fine. Well, as fine as I can be considering… Besides, Darwin and Wynn are literally down the hall. And you know how Wynn hovers. She’ll probably bust through the door if I cough funny.”
“I heard that.”
Neve relaxed. “Didn’t say anything you didn’t already know.”
Wynn walked into the room, Zadie and Scout trailing behind her. “And I hover because you’re always the one getting hurt.” She looked over at Coulter. “Well, you and Coulter.”
Coulter crossed his arms. “As I recall, Scout took a round to her vest at the clinic.”
Wynn glanced back at Scout. “You’re right. You’re all the reason I don’t sleep at night.”
