Page 90 of Spurred On

The four of them spent the better part of the afternoon in the waiting room, chatting and playing cards, and occasionally Nurse Ratched would allow the two girls in to spend a moment with Henry. Even Hanna was coming to terms with the fact that her father, though in serious condition, was doing better.

The mood dipped sharply when, late that afternoon, the cardiologist came out to tell them Henry Stevens was being prepped for surgery. He would be having a double bypass and while it was a long and risky procedure, the doctors felt he had a good prognosis.

After that little bombshell dropped, silence engulfed them. Cody put his arm around Sidney and pulled her close. “It’ll be fine,” he said. “Your dad is a fighter.”

“I know.” But the intensity with which she grasped his hand telegraphed her worries.

They all decided to stay right here until Henry came out of surgery, even though the day was waning. Cody knew Sidney, and Hanna for that matter, would not rest until they knew their father was out of the woods.

They were both somber and restrained.

Until a whirlwind burst into the waiting room.

Cody’s heart plunged into his belly as he saw them coming. Oh, his mood wasn’t dashed by the sight of Rafe and Brandon. It was Ben who crushed his spirit.

He strode into the waiting room carrying take-out boxes and, when he opened his arms to her, Sidney ran to him and gave him a warm hug.

Cody looked away. His gaze tangled with Hanna’s and he tried to ignore the aching sympathy in her expression. Because it meant she read the agony in his. He desperately tried to rein it in.

He fixed his features into something resembling delight and greeted his friends effusively. They all crowded in and sat the take-out boxes on the tiny table.

“We brought you dinner,” Rafe gusted.

“All the way from Dallas?” Logan asked.

Brandon nodded. “We figured you could use some decent food.”

“We have decent food in Snake Gully,” Cody felt obliged to say. Even though it was barely true.

“But not this.” Ben held up a tub emblazoned with the logo for Hank’s Eye-Poppin’ Chili.

“Oh . . .” Hanna warbled. Her eyes teared up. She turned to Sidney with a watery smile. “It’s Dad’s chili.”

Sidney forced a smile, but it came out as a grimace. “Yay.” Less than enthusiastic.

Ben chuckled. “I know you hate your dad’s chili,” he said, “so I brought you this.” And he flourished a smallish take-out box beneath her nose. “PB&J with rippled chips.”

“Oh my God.” Sidney snatched the box and rolled her eyes in something that might have been orgasmic joy. “Thank you.” She grinned at Cody, and he was gratified she deigned to remember his existence. “I am such an epicurean.”

“Right?” Ben chuckled. “Most women go for the lobster and steak tartare. Not our Sidney.”

“Give me PB&J any day,” she said, opening the box and lifting the top slice of bread. “What kind of jelly?”

“Blackberry, of course.”

“You’re my hero,” she gushed.

Cody tried really hard not to grimace.

It was bad enough to know that Sidney and Ben were an item. It was another thing entirely to watch them together. He had the strong inclination to make his farewells and leave, but that would probably tip his hand, and he didn’t want anyone to think Ben had chased him away.

Besides, the Wilders had brought a mouthwatering selection of food from their restaurant—tri-tip, chicken, ribs, potatoes, freshly baked bread and more—and somehow, it was all still piping hot.

“We have a warmer in the truck,” Brandon mentioned, when Cody asked.

“We use it for deliveries,” Ben said with a nod.

“Well, thank you.” Sidney grinned at them all and they laughed, probably because she had jelly all over her face. He longed to lick it off, but his appetite soured when Ben took a napkin and dabbed at her cheeks.