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Scrubbing a hand down his face, Asher nodded in agreement before walking away again. The rest of the day was filled with tense silence. Even Joey and Mac remained sedate as they goofed off throughout the day.
“Hey, man, Soph asked me to give this to you.” Nox handed Loch the box with the gift she’d picked up for him.
“Tell her thanks, and I owe her one.” He was preoccupied as he opened the small blue box and didn’t notice Nox looking over his shoulder until he whistled again.
“Damn, that’s nice.” Loch watched his oldest brother walk away smiling and shaking his head. He didn’t think it was too much.
Being away from Sage all day wasn’t easy, but he was able to get more accomplished than anticipated, or even needed, as he finished cleaning up the shop as the day wound down. More than ready to get back to the hospital. He stopped for sandwiches and smoothies on the way in. Sage had mentioned the bland hospital food the night before, and he figured it’d be a pleasant surprise for her.
As he was entering the hospital, Levi called him. “Hey, bro, how’s your girl doing?” He sounded distracted.
“On my way to see her now. Ma dropped in on her this morning. How’s Hayes and her folks?” They hadn’t had a chance to speak much since the graduation party.
“They’re good. Shocked as fuck but couldn’t be happier.” Levi was quiet a moment, which wasn’t like his middle brother at all. “Look, kid, I think we should talk about all this shit with Sage and her looney toons family.”
Immediately riled up, Loch went on the defensive. “I won’t abandon her, Levi.” There was a bite to his voice.
“Don’t expect you to, kid. Just want your head on straight and to make sure we’re all prepared for the shit storm you’re about to encounter.” The jackass sounded amused.
“Fine. But not until I’ve gotten her settled in at Ma’s within the next couple days.” It was the only compromise he was willing to make at this point.
“There’s a fight Friday night. Nox and I will be at your place after work.” He hung up before Loch could respond.
Shaking his head at his brother and his impulsive nature, Loch continued on his way to Sage. He had spent most nights with her, and after being away for more than nine hours, he was eager to see her soft features again. Hear her tinkling laugh when she was nervous.
“Back again, Mr. Hogan?” Kirsten smiled from her post at the nurses’ station.
“Still here,” he responded. It was an ongoing greeting between the two of them. “How’s she doing?”
“Good. Your mother was here most of the day to keep her company. She only left because Sage insisted she go and run her errands.” Kirsten seemed to like watching the two women interact.
“Any idea when she’ll be discharged yet?” That was usually one of the first questions he asked her.
“Likely tomorrow, so long as there are no complications overnight.”
“Thanks.” He nodded to her as he knocked lightly on Sage’s door in case she was sleeping. Entering the room, he saw his suspicions were correct, and she was napping on her side.
Sitting on the chair beside her bed, he placed their meal on the tray across from her and watched as she slept. Her body was the most relaxed he’d ever seen it as she breathed evenly. The slow rise and fall of her chest calmed him. Thrilled she was able to find that sense of safety long enough to sleep even though he wasn’t there to slay her dragons when she needed it.
A slight shiver worked through her body, and as he went to pull the blanket over her waist and to her shoulders, she moaned, “Lochlan,” ever so quietly, making him smile. Settling her in, he sat back down and sent a quick text to Frank to see if he had learned any more information about her family.
Loch: Hey Frank, any new info?
Not getting an immediate response, Loch put his phone away to continue admiring Sage at rest. While she might find his presence reassuring and safe, he found the same with her. Girls hadn’t been on his radar for
years. Sure, he’d gone on a few dates here and there, but as soon as he’d seen Sage, just that one glimpse, he’d been done for.
There was just something about her he couldn’t put his finger on for the longest time. When it finally clicked, it hadn’t mattered that they came from vastly different backgrounds or that they were so young. As far as Loch had ever been concerned, the one and only tangible obstacle they’d ever had was her age. Now that she was of consent, he knew there wouldn’t be a single thing to stop them from letting their feelings grow.
In a way, it was cathartic to know that once she left the hospital, they could explore each other and their feelings. They would get the chance to flourish without the burden of her strict parents bringing them down.
At least, that was the hope.
While Loch was as sure as he could get about Sage, he wanted her to be free to explore the world he lived in and not only draw from the environment she’d been raised in. When he told her she wasn’t indebted to him, he’d meant it.
If Sage was to be his, he wanted that because she did as well, and not because she felt he was her only choice. He wished for her to want everything he did.
While his brothers may have guessed and teased him about his lack of a love life and the possibility of being a virgin, they weren’t wrong. He’d never made love to a woman. Hadn’t had the pleasure of meeting the right girl to give that part of himself to until the beauty with the frosty blonde hair and ice blue eyes smiled shyly at him.
