Page 71 of Under His Guard

“I’m only slightly glad you didn’t.” I break eye contact, looking down at the bed between us. “But my…well, I needed to rest after that.”

Luke kisses me again. “Only reason I didn’t jump your bones again.”

We both laugh before he stretches and sits up.

“How about I go make breakfast, and you can stay there all comfy since you have the day off?”

I hum appreciatively, sinking deeper into the soft pillow.

“Sounds great.”

As he leaves, I sit up in the bed, going for my phone. I promised Regina I’d call and check in, and now is as good a time as any.

The phone only rings a few times before my sister answers.

“Hey, C!” I can hear how glad she is that I called, and I smile as I picture my baby sister’s round face. “God, I feel like it’s been forever since we chatted.”

“It’s been a few days, Reggie. I last talked to you at work.”

Regina scoffs on the other end, and I hear her close a door.

“Ugh, that does not count because you only talked for a few minutes, and seriously, don’t call me that.”

I just smirk to myself. “As your older sister, I reserve the right to call you whatever I want.”

Getting up from the bed, I put the phone on speaker so I can get dressed while we talk.

“So, Beth’s surgery is on the fifteenth, right?”

“Yeah.” Regina’s tone is obviously more serious now, and I go into full protective big sister mode.

“Hey, it’s going to be fine. I know the surgeon performing the repair. He’s amazing. Beth’s going to be just fine.”

There’s a beat of silence, and then Regina sighs.

“I’m sure you’re right, it’s just…She’s my daughter, C. I love her more than anything in this entire world, and if something happens…”

I’m halfway through pulling on the scrubs from yesterday when I stop and focus entirely on Regina’s voice.

“I know, babe. I do. If I had a daughter, I’m sure…” The usual constriction that hits my throat whenever I mention kids crops up, and I have to swallow it down. “Well, anyway, you’re an amazing mom, and this is going to help Beth so much.”

Regina sniffles on the other line, and I smile even though I know she can’t see me.

“You’re right, C.” She releases a breath, and then I hear that door again. “Well, I’ll text you all the info so you can be there on time, but I have to go. Beth is up. Yesterday was a lot for her, and I need to go and get all her meds ready.”

If that was Regina just coming out of her bedroom, it means yesterday was rough. My sister doesn’t sleep in—ever.

“Oh, okay, hon. Of course. I love you. Talk soon, okay?”

“Love you, too, C. Later.”

I hang up the phone, pulling my scrub bottoms the rest of the way up.

“Everything okay?”

Turning around, Luke is at the door, and I offer a tired smile.

“Oh, yeah. Just checking in with my sister about Beth’s surgery. I want to be there for it, and it’s coming up next month.”

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