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CHAPTER THIRTY-TWO

I’m not sure who’s happier about my discharge, the nurse, or me. She wastes no time bandaging the wound after the doctor sews me up. Dropping some papers on my lap, she hitches her thumb toward the door. “Out of my bed.”

“You don’t have to ask me twice.”

The hospital’s quieter than when I arrived, probably because it’s now four in the morning. It’s still dark outside when I step through the sliding double doors. With a quick scan, I find Avery’s little white Toyota truck. It’s parked on the far side of the lot. I also spot the woman herself. Halfway between here and there, she’s walking toward me. Head down, lost in thought .

Putting myself on a collision course, I head toward her.

The distance closes. Her mouth is compressed in worry, her lip caught between her teeth, but she’s not crying. This is Avery solving problems with her logic.

When there’s just a dozen feet between us, I say, “Heads up, Angel.”

Grabbing her chest, she gasps and pins me with a snappy glare. “You scared the life out of me.”

I catch her in my arms and press a kiss to her frown. “Sorry. Mmmm, you feel good in my arms.”

A warm feeling spreads from where her body’s connected to mine as she slides her arms around my neck. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she says softly.

“I’m glad you’re here.”

When she steps back, she’s definitely shaken up. “Your son is waiting in my truck. He wouldn’t let me take him home without you.”

I glance toward it. The windshield is facing the other way, so I can’t see him.“Is he doing okay?”

“Tired. Upset. But coping.”

“He’s a tough kid.”

She leans her forehead against my chest. “Like his dad.”

“I’m not so tough anymore. Something’s happening to the scrap metal I’ve got in the center of my chest. Used to be hard as steel. Now I’m beginning to wonder.”

“Something similar happened here.” She presses her hand to her own chest.

“So. What does he think about seeing you with me?”

She pulls back, but I don’t let her go too far. I capture her hand in mine. Glancing toward the truck she says, “He was hurt you didn’t tell him.”

I remember that very same emotion. “Ironic. I felt the same about him not talking to me when you told me about Belle. I met her, by the way. The three of us had ice cream and a good talk. She’s totally into him.”

She pushes her hair back. “Good, because he’s really into her. He told me you guys talked about the bullies. It was a big weight off his shoulders.”

“Sounds like he’s pretty good at opening up to you.”

Shaking her head, she glances toward the truck again and says, “I guess I just know how to listen. I’m not sure why, but for some reason, guys I worked with used to talk to me too.”

“Because you’re nice. You’re also not judgemental.”

“I also don’t usually let my emotions get involved in whatever problem they have,” she adds.

My voice has taken a rough tone when I say, “Yep, except with me. Which I love, by the way, that you cared enough to charge in the hospital and hug me like you were afraid you’d never see me again. You don’t know what that does to a man.”

She looks up at me. The shadow that I make moves across her face as she shifts on her feet. Her eyes filled with worry. “I’m kind of a mess here right now, Brock. As disastrous as all of this could be for both of us, I can’t seem to walk away.”

When she shifts again, the light above us catches in the moisture gathering on her lashes. That fist around my heart tightens more.

“Good, because I’d just come to hunt you down.”

“This time,” she says with a breathy half-laugh.

“Damn right this time, and any time from here on out, so don’t even think about running. I’m impossible to shake when I set my mind on something.”

She pinches my ribs. “Come on. Let’s go before you scare me by professing your undying love and devotion. ”

I loop my arm around her neck and tuck her under my good arm, “I just did, sweetheart.”

She plugs her ears. “La, la, la. I’m not listening. I’ve dealt with too much today to hear any such madness.”

I’ll just wait till she’s beneath me, and I’ve got her hands pinned before I tell her again.

Avery hands me her keys as we approach her truck. “You’ll have to drive, I’ll get in the back. Neither you nor Lincoln will fit back there.”

“Good thing you’re pocket-sized,” I say, grinning at her.

When I open the driver’s door, Linc quickly sits up.

He looks between me and Avery as if he’s taking the temperature of the mood.

“Sorry, didn’t mean to startle you.”

“I just fell asleep.” His eyes go to the bulky bandage under my torn shirt. “Are you gonna be okay?”

“Just fine. I won’t even have to take light duty.”

Avery makes a disbelieving sound. “Let me see those release orders.”

“Later,” I grumble and flip the seat up so she can climb in the back of the extended cab. Hoisting her up, I help her in.

I suddenly get an idea. One that I hope will help. I know it’s easier for people to get to know each other over food. “What do you guys say we get some greasy late night diner food? I’m starving.”

Linc’s brows are knotted together when he looks at me. “As long as we don’t talk about anything serious, Dad. I’m shot.”

“Ditto!” Avery says from the backseat.

“Alright. You guys win. Pancakes and useless conversation coming up.”

I close the door and start the truck. On the inside, I’m smiling. For a few more hours, I can pretend that everything is okay, even though this ride might be in for some serious turbulence.