Page 103 of From the Start

He scowls before storming through the doors ahead of us.

Kai shakes his head. “You weren’t kidding when you said you know all the gossip in Smuggler’s Hideaway.”

I roll my eyes. “It’s not a big secret how Miles broke Hazel’s heart and now she hates him with the intensity of a mermaid scorned.”

Zane smiles as he passes me. “You’re a fun addition to the family.”

Warmth spreads throughout me at his proclamation, and I beam at him. “Thanks.”

“Come on!” Miles motions at us from where he’s standing in front of the elevators, waiting for us.

The waiting room is full when we reach it. Rhett and Dakota and Jaxon and Blossom are already here.

“I was promised ribs,” Dad grumps when I park his wheelchair in the waiting room.

“How about a crappy coffee and a half-melted candy bar?”

It was our dinner of choice when Mom was in the hospital for one of her treatments. Mom didn’t allow me coffee or chocolate, so it was our little secret.

His smile is wonky. “Thanks, Harp.”

Kai grasps my hand. “I’ll go with you.”

“Behave, Dad,” I order.

We barely make it out of the waiting room before a door flies open and Stuart appears.

“I’m trying to help!” he shouts back into the room.

“You’re not helping!” Jessica yells back at him.

“Two guesses which room Paisley’s in,” Kai whispers to me.

“No one’s helping!” Paisley screams.

“Ding. Ding. Ding. We have a winner.”

I elbow him. “Knock it off.”

Stuart shakes his head at me. “Be warned. The people in this family are crazy.”

I’ve lived my entire life on Smuggler’s Hideaway. Some would claim all of the islanders are crazy. I’ve seen a lot of crazy. I’m comfortable with crazy.

“Eli Raider, you are not a doctor. Put down my chart and stop ordering your mother around,” Paisley yells from within the room.

Kai tugs on my hand. “Let’s go before we have to phone the police over a domestic disturbance.”

“Wow. You really don’t enjoy living, do you?” I ask but allow him to lead me away.

We arrive at a bank of vending machines.

“What do you want?”

“Nothing from here.” I point upward. “The best vending machines are on the fifth floor.”

“And here I thought I knew everything there was to know about this hospital.”

“Dad and I spent a lot of time here when Mom was getting her treatments.”