Page 58 of Hearts at War

I flipped him off. “Funny.”

He entered, eyeing the bandages wrapped around my upper arm.

“Eh, I’m just trying to make light of the situation.”

I nodded, running a hand over my face. “I know. I know.” And I wasn’t upset that he was mildly poking fun at my injury. A couple of hours ago, a section of wire popped free and sliced me. The sharp edges of the metal didn’t go easy on me. Twin long, and surprisingly deep, gashes marred my skin. I was glad Gavin was there at the time because without him, I would’ve dismissed it for longer, thinking the wetness on my shirt sleeve was sweat, not blood.

These sorts of things happened, and normally, no medical attention was needed. In the worst-case scenario, one of the other guys could slap a Band-Aid on a spot that couldn’t be reached.

It wasn’t an insect sting that I felt when it happened. It was a damn pair of cuts that bled enough that we figured I’d get stitched up. Compressing it didn’t help, so here we were, hours later, waiting for me to get discharged from the urgent care location. Twelve stitches on the top cut, and five on the deepest part of the lower one.

“I’ll have to think of a story to explain all the blood in the truck now, though,” Gavin joked.

I rolled my eyes. “It wasn’t that bad.”

“No. And it’s vinyl.” He chuckled. “It’ll clean up.”

“Sorry to keep you waiting for so long,” I said. Like most things, service was slow. My problem wasn’t life-or-death, either, so it wasn’t worrying me that I was still here, waiting to be discharged.

“About that.” He smiled. “While I was out in the waiting room, the neighbor said she’d watch the kids while one of Wendy’s friends drove her out to the ranch to get your truck. She brought it here, so I can take her home now.”

“Hey, thanks. I appreciate that.” It was good people like Gavin and Wendy who made these small towns worthwhile.

“You will be cleared to drive, won’t you?” He smirked.

I narrowed my eyes. “Yes, I will.”

“I dunno. Last time I came in here to check if you were still alive, that nurse seemed awfully determined to take you home herself.”

“Yeah. To her home.” I shook my head at the mention of the overly flirty nurse. “Not happening.”

“Not your type?”

I shook my head. Too pushy.

“Hmm.” He didn’t stop grinning, having too much fun. “I don’t know. Having a hot nurse around wouldn’t be such a bad thing... Wendy and I—”

“All right. All right.” I waved him on. Hearing him talk about shit he did with his wife never got too graphic. He didn’t offer many details anyway, but lately, hearing him talk about her at all made me feel slightly jealous.

I was supposed to have had that. Veronica was supposed to be my wife. My partner. An ally. It didn’t matter that three years had passed, I mourned the loss of just having someone.

But I never did. She was never all in.

“You’re sure I’m okay to take off then?” Gavin tossed my keys at me, and I caught them without moving my bandaged and stitched arm.

“Yeah. Thanks again. I owe you one.”

He waved, dismissing me and headed out.

Once he was gone, my nurse came back in.

“I’m off in about forty-five minutes. Time will fly though, big boy. And then I can help you get off.” She waggled her brows.

“Oh hell...” I groaned, hanging my head. There was promiscuous and eager then there was this.

“Sounds good, huh?”

I lifted my head. “No. I just want to leave.”