Page 21 of After Felix (Close Proximity #3)

He puts up his good hand. “Not my idea,” he says in a sanctimonious tone. “It was the doctor. He’s concerned about my head.”

“Why? Did you finally knock some sense into it?”

“ Felix ,” Andrew says.

I ignore him in favour of glaring at Max. “There’s absolutely no reason for me to stay with you.”

“What about my arm? ”

“You’ve got another one.” Even I can hear the hysteria in my voice, but I can’t stop it.

Max looks pensive. “Well, I suppose I’ll be alright. You mustn’t worry about me,” he says with a sigh.

“Oh, okay. That’s great,” I say quickly. “We’ll just be off, then. Nice to see you again, Max. Let’s leave it a lot longer next time.”

“Felix,” Andrew says reproachfully. “You have to stay. He’s helpless.”

“He is not helpless,” I argue. “He got through Syria with a bullet in him. I’m sure he can cope with the taxi ride from the hospital.”

Panic rises. I can’t stay with him. I’ve developed a routine over the last couple of years. Get in. Snark at him. Get out. My method will take a severe battering if I have to stay in the same house as him. I haven’t been in this close proximity to him since we were together in Cornwall.

My thoughts are interrupted when the doctor comes back into the cubicle. “Ah, Mr. Travers,” he says cheerfully. “Nurse is on her way. Have you arranged for someone to stay with you tonight? If not, I’m going to insist that you stay here because of that bump on the head.”

Max turns what can only be described as puppy-dog eyes on me. Against my will I sigh and say, “Okay, I’ll do it.”

“ Yes ,” Max says loudly. When we all turn to stare at him, he immediately assumes a pious expression. “How extremely thoughtful of you, Felix,” he intones.

“Good good,” the doctor says. “Now, I’ll give you a list of things to watch out for. Mainly unusual sleep patterns.”

“They usually happen when he’s been drinking,” I observe. The doctor immediately looks at Max, his expression indicating Max has suddenly turned into Charlie Sheen.

“Okay,” he says slowly. “No drinking tonight, then, Mr Travers.” He frowns at Max. “Or drugs,” he adds.

I grin, but wipe it away as the doctor turns back to me. “If you see anything that worries you about Mr Travers—like unusual personality fluctuations—please ring the hospital.”

“That’s a very wide field, if you know Max,” I say uneasily.

“Maybe if he’s too loud or not making any sense,” the doctor offers .

“Ooh, it’s going to be really hard to tell the difference from the way he is normally,” I say mournfully.

Max glares at me.

The doctor turns back to Max and gives him instructions about how to shower with his injured arm. I tune out the conversation. I’m going absolutely nowhere near a naked, wet Max.

Andrew tugs at my arm. “I need to talk to you,” he murmurs.

I follow Andrew outside, ignoring Max’s furtive glare. “What is it?” I ask. “I’m sorry, but you’re going to have to drive back to London on your own.”

“Felix, I think I’m probably not going to call you again,” he says with a hushed intonation like he’s making a royal proclamation.

I wrinkle my nose. This revelation is hardly a surprise. “Oh yes,” I say carelessly. “Any particular reason?”

“I don’t think you’re that interested in me.”

“And how did you work that out?”

“The fact that since you ran Max over, you seem to have come to life. And he’s the same. The two of you seem very bright together and suddenly the most alive people in the room.”

I stare at him, lost for words. “Well, I suppose running a person over does tend to make you appreciate the life coursing through your veins,” I finally say.

To my astonishment, he laughs. “Felix, you are funny. You took him to the hospital and stayed and drank coffee while they set a cast. It’s not exactly the Battle of Britain.” He surprises me by reaching out and giving me a hug. “Maybe there’s still something there between you?”

“There is. It’s called snark and bitterness,” I inform him.

He hugs me again and ruffles my hair. “I don’t think we suit at all,” he says solemnly when he steps back. “But I want you to know that my time with you has never been boring.”

“You have no idea how many men have said that.” I sigh and smile at him.

He’s not a bad sort. Patronising as fuck and the hair ruffling was getting really annoying, but he means well.

“Have a safe trip back.” He kisses my forehead and starts towards the exit.

“Oh, and if the hotel bills you for the dressing gown and slippers, I’m sure it’s just a terrible mistake,” I call after him .

He laughs and raises his fingers to his forehead in a salute and vanishes out of the door.

I hesitate and then wander out onto the hospital forecourt. I pull out my phone and ring Zeb.

“Felix?” he says as he answers the phone. “How’s Max? Did you get the signature?”

“Not exactly ,” I say cautiously. “He couldn’t really sign the papers today.”

“Why? Was he drunk?”

“Oh no, completely sober, but… I sort of fractured his arm and concussed him when I ran him over with a car.”

There’s an exceptionally long pause that seems to stretch into eternity. “Have the two of you been arguing again?” he finally asks, his tone cautious.

I remove the phone from my ear and stare down at it for a long second before bringing it back to my ear. “No, of course not. For God’s sake, do you think I’d just run him over if he’d annoyed me?”

He says matter-of-factly, “Well, yes, if he was in your way.”

“This is totally his fault.”

“Of course,” he replies loyally and patently untruthfully.

“Anyway, I’m going to have to stay the night to check if he’s got a concussion. God knows how I’m supposed to do that. His behaviour is erratic at the best of times. Can you cover me at the office tomorrow? I’ll ring Bev, and she’ll take over from you.”

“No problem.” There’s a long pause and his voice is soft when he speaks again. “Maybe this is good. You need to have a talk. It’s long overdue. Only, be kind to each other,” he adds quickly. “You both need it.”

“I’ll try,” I say. “But I’m not committing to that because Max has a way of winding me up that nobody else in this world possesses.”

“Maybe you should think about why that is,” he advises me.

He smartly rings off before I can reply, leaving me standing on the hospital forecourt with more questions than answers. I sigh. Fucking Max. It’s a normal state of affairs around him.