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It was still killing him not to know for certain what was going on with her. Malcolm glanced at his phone. Trenton had texted that the hospital was keeping Celia overnight, but not to worry. Yeah, like that was possible.
Malcolm grabbed his duffel bag and hesitated in the hallway. He glanced toward the light shining within the spare bedroom. So she’d made it. A few strides, and he peered inside.
Jami hadn’t lain down. She sat on the side of the bed, staring at her bare legs, but she wasn’t out of breath. Her arms shook a little where they gripped the edge of the bed.
“You good?” he asked.
Her head lifted. “Yes, of course.”
Malcolm looked around. The room was nearly as bare as it had been when Celia had stayed with them as a teenager. The familiar frustration set in that she’d never felt at home there. “This was Celia’s room back in the day,” he mentioned, pleased to see the fact release some of the tension from Jami’s shoulders.
“Back when she got away,” Jami murmured, her gaze dropping to her legs again.
Malcolm wouldn’t have described it that way. “Is that what she said in group?”
Jami looked up in surprise. “I thought she said you were there back then.”
“I was.” Malcolm couldn’t prevent the hard edge in his tone. He cleared his throat. “I guess I never saw it that way, as getting away. Celia was attacked beyond what anyone could handle. The memory of what happened trapped her more than ever, though group therapy has helped.” His tension eased as he thought of Celia and Trenton, the loving couple. “But it wasn’t until recently that I’ve seen her smile like I always imagined she could.”
“Really? What happened recently?”
It was Malcolm’s turn to frown. “Celia doesn’t talk about Trent in group?”
Jami’s eyes dropped again. “I haven’t been back for a while.”
Malcolm nodded, even though she couldn’t see it. “Taking care of your dad took a lot of your time.”
“I couldn’t leave him alone,” she said. That grip of hers was clinging to the bed again.
Malcolm wanted to sigh, but bit it back. “And what about you? Should I scram and leave you alone?”
“I shouldn’t have said it like that,” she said, and he was relieved that she lifted her eyes back to his. “But yes, please. I’m pretty tired.”
He’d bet she was. “Okay, but I’ll be back early in the morning to check on you. Celia gave me your number.” He fished his phone out of his pocket, letting the phone ring once. Hers vibrated next to her. “Call me if you need anything, and I’ll text you before I just walk in. No need to get up for me or anything. The text will be a warning, so I don’t accidentally frighten you.” He shoved his phone away. “Sleep as much as you can. It’ll help with the healing.”
“Thanks, Malcolm,” Jami said. She smiled at him, a ghost of the smile he remembered from so long ago.
“You’re welcome,” he said. He’d made the mistake of waving off any thanks in the past because it had made him uncomfortable, but found that acknowledging it made it better for the other person. “Now, lie down and rest.” He turned to leave. “Don’t worry. I’ll lock up when I go.”
“Okay,” Jami said. She was still sitting on the side of the bed when he left.
Malcolm pulled on the front door good and hard to make sure it was locked, then climbed back into his truck. He didn’t bother driving to the tavern yet. No, too much boiled in his stomach.
The owner had given him a key to the gym years back. He wasn’t the only one, and he found the lights on already. It was no surprise to see Reggie inside, already warming up on one of the bags.
“Hey,” was all Malcolm said as he grabbed his own gloves.
“Hey, yourself,” Reggie said, stepping away from the bags and over to the ring.
Malcolm didn’t need to warm up. He needed to pummel something. He stepped into the ring with his sparring partner, a lifted eyebrow all the communication they required before he threw the first punch.
Reggie blocked it, and the next one. He was the type to bide his time before he threw his own punch, especially with the speed that Malcolm threw his swings.
It wasn’t only the uncertainty with Celia that Malcolm had to cleanse from his system. He also had to expel the anger that simmered at whoever had put that look into Jami’s eyes. Perhaps it was that Raneer she’d mentioned who had sucked away the voracity for life she’d had when he’d first met her.
Malcolm missed reading the cue, and Reggie popped him on the jaw before he could block.
“Gonna let me win tonight?” Reggie grinned at him as he covered his own jaw for the returning jab, then let loose another one.
