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“I’m fine,” he said.
“I hate to break it to you, but ‘fine’ people aren’t usually lying in the hospital.”
“Doctors are overly cautious. They don’t want to get sued by the Steels.”
“Oh, for God’s sake, Ryan!” I stood and paced around the sterile room. “The doctor was right. I talked to Melanie, and she agreed with his assessment. In case you’ve forgotten, she’s also a doctor.”
“I don’t want to argue with you, Ruby.”
“Fine. Then don’t.”
He paused and then picked up the spoon, swallowing the Jell-O and hovering the utensil over the plate. “About yesterday…”
“What about it?”
“I’m sorry I was so…” He sighed.
“Like I told you. I don’t do anything I don’t want to do. No apologies, Ryan. No regrets.”
“But I do regret how I—”
I shut him up, this time by pressing a light kiss to his lips. “Enough.”
Jonah and Talon walked quietly through the doorway.
“Food’s here,” Jonah said. “Oh, hey, Ruby.”
“Hi.”
“Hungry?” Talon asked. “We brought enough to feed an army.”
“I’m hungry enough to eat that much,” Ryan said. “The gray meat and Jell-O isn’t cutting it.”
I couldn’t help smiling. This was Ryan being…Ryan. The Ryan I had come to know was, until recently, always jovial. Always smiling, despite the tragedies that had befallen his family.
I inhaled. Garlic and basil. Italian. My mouth watered. But I didn’t want to interrupt their brother time. “I’ll be going.”
“No,” Ryan said. “Please stay.”
“I don’t want to intrude.”
“If you feel like you’re intruding, I’ll boot these two out,” he said.
My cheeks warmed. He’d rather be with me than his brothers? Maybe he had truly forgiven me for my part in the DNA test.
Jonah and Talon exchanged a glance.
“We’ll go,” Jonah said, “but only if Ruby promises she’ll see that you stay put until you’re released tomorrow.”
Way to put me on the spot. I opened my mouth, but no words came out. Ryan had asked me to stay, but it sounded like his brothers wanted me to spend the night here. I was pretty sure that wasn’t what Ryan had meant. Besides, I had work the next day.
“Give me a break, guys,” Ryan said. “I’m staying put, okay? Give me a little credit.”
“Glad you’re feeling better, Ry.” Jonah looked to me and then pulled a phone out of his pocket. “Here’s your new cell. It’s all activated.” He tossed it to Ryan.
Ryan caught it easily. “Thanks, man.”
“I guess we’re off then,” Talon said and then looked to me. “He’s all yours.”
