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“It will be epic,” Baden assures me.
The team is putting together a ton of Titans-related gifts—not just for Aiden, but for all his friends invited to the party. Brienne took it upon herself to hire a magician, a clown and face painters. The other Titans women are going to decorate the gardens. Lilly doesn’t know any of this stuff. She only knows a few of the guys will drop by and she’s ordered a massive sheet cake for all the kids. It’s going to be a carnival atmosphere centered around Aiden’s birthday and the kid deserves every bit of it.
Baden and I next chat about the second round next week. It will either be against the New Jersey Wildcats or the Nashville Badgers, but game five in that series happens tonight and the Wildcats have a 3–1 series lead. We’d both love New Jersey to pull it out since we’ve done well against them this year, but that never guarantees anything. The playoffs are a whole different breed of hockey. No matter, we’ll be ready for either one.
When I pull into the parking garage, I wrap the call. “I gotta go, man. At the hospital.”
“Any other plans?”
“Probably hang the entire day. Last full day we have off and all.” Tomorrow we’ll be back to doing light skates and team meetings as we prep for the next round.
“And then tonight with Lilly?” he prods teasingly.
“I don’t kiss and tell.”
Baden laughs and we disconnect.
Not sure if Lilly and I will have alone time tonight. Since she’s working today at the deli, my suspicion is she’ll want to hang with Aiden this evening and that’s fine by me. I’ll either scoot out and let them have their time or if they aren’t bothered by me staying, I’ll hang out. Like I said, nothing to do today except what I want, and hanging with Aiden and Lilly is all I need.
♦
My gaze movesto the bed from the wall-mounted TV whereIron Manis playing. It’s Aiden’s favorite and was his choice to watch tonight. I don’t mind—it’s a fucking phenomenal movie. Lilly didn’t mind because she indulges Aiden in whatever he wants.
I shouldn’t even be here after spending all day with Aiden while Lilly worked at the deli, but when she showed up to take over, I couldn’t make myself leave. I wanted to be in the same space as her, even if we could do nothing but act as good friends. While Aiden understands that we’re dating, we’ve not been overt in our affection in front of him. I doubt it would bother him, but it’s all so new, I’m letting Lilly lead on this.
Letting her direct exactly how we should be when we’re in the presence of her brother.
Aiden barely made it fifteen minutes into the movie before he fell asleep. I don’t do nights up here, but Lilly said that was commonplace, especially since he’s been feeling a little better lately and expending more energy during the day, so he tends to wear himself out. He’s snoring, lying on his side with one arm curled under his pillow. His other arm, ladened with an IV line, stretches outward across the bed and his hand pokes through a slot in the bed rail, holding Lilly’s on the other side.
My gaze slides past the clasped hands of brother and sister, their fingers intertwined loosely—almost on the verge of separating because they’re both relaxed in slumber—to Lilly’s face. Beautifully serene and peaceful, lips parted slightly. I can make out her long lashes against her skin in the ambient blue cast of the TV and the glow from the hall light coming through the open door. I should wake Lilly and make her go home, but she looks far too content right now.
Rising from my straight-back chair, I suppress the groan from my aching back and neck. I stretch, sling my neck side to side to crack some bones and sigh in relief. Hospital sitting for extended periods is no picnic on the body unless you’re in the recliner that Lilly’s occupying. I stare at Lilly a bit longer, then at Aiden and the touch of their hands. It’s about the most loving thing I’ve ever seen, the need to touch even in sleep, and it makes me want Lilly back in my bed badly.
I consider going home but truly, I’ve got nothing better to do and Lilly might wake up, and it would be worth it to stay here to have a few moments of her time. I could walk her to her car and get a hot kiss laced with the promise of more.
Reaching into my backpack, I pull out my digital tablet and pencil. I knew I’d be here a long time today, which included periods while Aiden napped. His marrow might be starting to recover, but he’s still a sick kid and rest is essential. I’ve been using those times to doodle and sketch, and now I have a breathtaking scene playing out before me that I’d love to capture.
Very quietly, I move the chair to the opposite side of Aiden’s bed so Lilly’s face is pointed at me and her arm extends my way. I lower onto the seat and study my subject for a few minutes, taking note of the details I want to capture—subtle and obvious. I start off sketching the oval shape of her face and making a slightly curved cross through it, which will nail down the correct angle and perspective in the finished product. I rough in her eyes, the slope of her nose and the shape of her lips. Next comes the line of her arm, her fingers intermingled with Aiden’s. When I have the bones of my portrait just right, I hyperfocus on the details.
Thin strokes for her lashes, subtle blending of shadows between her shoulder and the chair and cross-hatching for shading under her cheekbones. I get lost in bringing Lilly to life on my screen, all while recounting the time we’ve spent together, the deep conversations we’ve had and the way she orgasmed on my finger last night.
It seems like I’ve only been at it for a bit, but when I check my watch, I’m shocked that almost two hours have passed. My neck aches as I lift it and I once again force the bones to pop for relief. Gaze falling back to the portrait, I know I could add more details. It’s not perfect by any means, but I love it just the way it is. I download the image as both a JPEG and PDF and quietly slip out of Aiden’s room.
Navigating the halls with ease born of frequent visits, I head to the nurses’ station. It’s quiet at this time of night and no one is moving about except one lone nurse I see slipping into a patient’s room. Most of the doors are open and the lights are out, sick kiddos all tucked into bed and resting as best they can.
At the U-shaped nurse’s station, I’m pleased to see Lori there. She normally doesn’t work the night shift. Smiling at me as I approach, I ask her, “Picking up a double?”
She nods. “Hubs is traveling and I thought, why not? The extra money will buy nice things for the grandkids.”
“Love it,” I reply with a chuckle.
“What are you doing here?” she returns with a cocked eyebrow. “You’re normally on day shift.”
I offer a sly grin. “I heard all the prettiest nurses are here at night.”
She waves her hand, scoffing. “I’m old enough to be your mother. Besides… everyone knows you have eyes for Lilly.”
Christ, doesn’t that produce the blush? We haven’t been open in our relationship here at the hospital so I’m surprised that’s the gossip. I find it amusing though, so I only offer a quiet smirk that doesn’t quite admit she’s right but doesn’t deny it either.
