AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“I know he used to own one, yes.” He’d sold it years ago—Brooks briefly mentioned it to me back then. “Though I don’t see how it’s relevant.”
Her grin shrunk slightly. “You sure the club changed owners? Because that’s not what I heard.”
Dax ever so slowly leaned forward, pinning her with a lethal glare that made her tense. “I don’t know what gave you the impression that I’ll tolerate you attempting to play mind games with my wife,” he said, his words soft and slow and exuding danger, “but it stops now. Right fucking now.”
Heather pressed her lips together, her eyes narrowing.
Apparently satisfied, Dax sank back into his seat and draped his arm over the back of my chair. The move was as protective as his tone of voice had been, and it made my chest go all gooey.
I leaned into him again and whispered, “This is why I didn’t invite her to our wedding.”
He let out a quiet grunt.
Silence fell as we continued to wait for a doctor to arrive. To pass the time, I alternated from reading the posters tacked on the otherwise plain walls to reading the subtitles on the muted wall-mounted TV. I also watched through the windows as people walked along the corridors beyond the waiting room—some dressed in scrubs or uniforms, some in standard clothing, others shuffling along in hospital gowns while holding IVs.
Aside from the ever-composed Dax, we were all on pins—tapping our feet, swirling our ankles, biting our lips, furtively eyeing the door. Even Heather, though she took pains to instead look bored by scrolling through her phone, was quite clearly restless.
Harri reached back to restlessly tug at her ponytail. “I need to use the bathroom. I’ll be right back.” She stood, hooking her purse strap over her shoulder. It was right then that the door opened.
As a middle-aged guy in a white jacket breezed inside, we all stood. He confirmed our worst fear: Wyatt had, in fact, had a heart attack. Fortunately, surgery wasn’t required—the clot-dissolving medication they administered had worked. However, he’d need to stay overnight for observation.
Inhaling deeply, I let the relief that Wyatt was stable sink in—absorbed it, processed it, fucking relished it.
Melinda’s false “I’m okay” front crumpled with what seemed to be the same relief I felt. “Can I see him?” she pled.
“He can have visitors, but only two at a time,” the doctor replied.
“Me and Mom should go first,” Heather announced. “It’s us he’ll most want to see.”
Vienna gave a subtle eye roll. “Good idea. You two go on.”
When the doctors and two women left, I sighed at Dax. “Never a dull moment with Heather.”
“Every family has one,” said Alicia.
By the time it was my turn to go see Wyatt, he’d fallen asleep. My chest tightened at the sight of him pale and linked to beeping machines. Never had I seen him look fragile. Not until right then. It scared the shit out of me.
When I eventually returned to the waiting room, Melinda looked from me to Alicia to Harri as she said, “You all head on home. I’ll text you with any updates.”
Alicia frowned, her shoulders stiffening. “But—”
“I’m leaving, too,” Vienna told my sister, as if to ease any guilt she might feel. “I need to pick up some things for Melinda and Wyatt.”
Which was somethingHeathercould have done so that my mom could have stayed, but it seemed the woman had already left.
I gave Melinda a hug. “Call me if you need anything.”
She smoothed a hand down her blouse, her eyes sad. “Thanks, honey. I will.”
Dax cupped my elbow. “Come on, let’s get you home.”
We all walked out together, only dispersing when we reached the parking lot. When he began guiding me to his vehicle, I dug in my heels and pointed at the opposite end of the lot as I spoke, “My car is over—”
“I’ll have Caelan come get it and drive it back to our villa,” Dax told me. “You can ride with me.”
“That’s not necessary.”
“I disagree. I don’t want you driving right now.” He gave my wrist a light squeeze. “Let me take you home.”
