Page 162 of No Good Fight

“I’m sitting in hospital scrubs with split knuckles and dried blood under my fingernail. I don’t think smug is what you’re seeing.”

“That sounded smug too.”

Her father turns away with a cough that doesn’t hide the laugh in it.

The small amount of normal in the room should make me feel better. Mostly it does. Then Alex shifts too quickly, winces, and puts a hand against her side.

I’m halfway out of the chair before I realize I’ve moved.

Her eyes lift to mine. “I’m okay,” she says.

I sit back down even though everything in me wants to check whether she actually is. “I didn’t say anything.”

“You were about to stage a full-on body check to find where I hurt myself this time.”

“Probably.” I don’t bother trying to deny it.

She watches me for another second, then rests her head against the pillow again.

Her mother starts talking about bringing food to my house. Alex immediately tells her that isn’t necessary. Her father mentions picking up prescriptions on the way over, and Alex says we can get them ourselves. Josh offers to stay nearby tonight, which earns him a flat look from his sister.

Within two minutes, she has rejected help from every person in the room.

I fold my hands together so I don’t start pointing at people.

“Alex.”

She keeps her attention on Josh. “You are not sleeping on Ryder’s couch.”

“I didn’t say his couch. I will sleep in the guest room. Nia will do the cooking, it’ll be great.” He shrugs a shoulder like he’s not just inviting himself to move in temporarily.

“You live four minutes away.” Alex groans and shuts her eyes for a moment.

“I’m aware.”

“Then drive home.”

“Alex.” I can’t help saying her name, and then I take her hand.

This time she looks at me.

I nod toward her mother, who already has her phone open to make whatever list she was going to make anyway. “They want to help.”

“I know.”

“Okay.”

Her eyes narrow. “Okay what?”

“Nothing. Just making sure you know. Because right now you’re acting like them wanting to help isn’t a good thing, but it is.”

“I do.”

Her father quietly takes the empty water cup off the tray and replaces it with the full one the nurse left earlier. Alex watches him do it.

I wait.

She catches me waiting and frowns. “Don’t.”