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The nurse nodded, and everyone shifted back as Max and the doctor pushed me out into the hall. For a brief moment, I wondered why they didn’t just get a wheelchair, but when I glanced at my elevated ankle, I figured maybe that was why. Really, I didn’t care. I was tired, and at least this way, I didn’t have to move.
“We’ll be here when you’re done,” Rory said alongside the bed, and I nodded, giving everyone a little wave as they pushed me toward the elevator.
Once the nurse hit the button for the elevator, she glanced at Max.
The doctor cleared his throat. “I’m afraid this is as far as we can allow you to go.”
Max was already shaking his head. “I told you. I’m going with him.”
“It’s hospital policy,” the doctor refuted.
Max made a gruff sound, and I reached for him. “Max.” My fingers closed around the tank stretched over his waist. “I’ll be fine. Just wait here. Call Win for me.”
His eyes softened as they mapped my face as if he were trying to memorize me. “I don’t like leaving you alone.”
“I won’t be alone, and I’ll be right back.”
The elevator dinged open. Max helped push the bed inside, hesitating at the open doors. The war reflected on his honed features, and the way his pierced brow hovered low over his eye made my stomach dip.
The doors started to shut, and Max slammed his palms against them, body filling out the opening as he stood there like he would keep them open all night.
“Sir,” the doctor cautioned.
“If anything happens to him,” Max said, staring at the doctor, “there will be nowhere on this earth you can hide.”
I made a strangled sound, and pain shot from my ankle up my leg. Max moved out of the doorway but stared as if he were back to memorizing my face.
His eyes never left me even as the doors slid closed, the intensity of his gaze not diminishing.
Once the doors were completely shut, I still focused on the space he’d occupied, sad to lose sight of him for even a second. The doctor and nurse exhaled like they were relieved, and I glanced up at the woman.
“Your brother is, ah… intense,” she said, giving me a brief smile.
My stomach cramped, a fresh wave of nausea rolling over me.Brother.“I’m sorry about him,” I apologized. “Our parents died in a car accident. I think this is just bringing up a lot for him…”
The doctor and nurse softened immediately, sympathy transforming their faces.
Max hated when I made excuses for him, but I wasn’t going to stop.
When it came to Max, I couldn’t seem to help myself.
6
Max
The phone went to voicemail,and I hung up and dialed again. On the third ring, a gruff voice came over the line. “It’s two a.m., Max.”
“Wes was in a car accident.” I didn’t mince words. There was no point. I would never be able to pretty up any of that no matter how hard I tried. Besides, even if I could, that’s not how Win would want it.
All traces of sleep left Win’s voice instantly. “How bad?” he demanded, tone clipped as the sound of blankets being shoved back filled the rest of the silence.
“He has a concussion. A sprained ankle.” I paused to swallow, a vision of his pale cheeks flashing behind my eyes. “Stitches.”
“Where?”
“He’s down getting a CT scan now. He, ah, lost consciousness for a few.” I wasn’t there.I wasn’t fucking there.
“Where are the stitches?” Win barked.
