Page 96 of Killaney Blood

"Thanks. Always good to hear from you too."

She studies me through the screen. "What's up? You're all twitchy. Someone piss in your coffee?"

"I'm fine," I say, rubbing my face. "Tired. Busy."

"Doing what, brooding?"

"Trying to think."

"Ah." She rolls her eyes. "By not focusing on recovering. Not calling Lyra. Not texting anyone. Not returning my calls. Just sulking?"

I glare at her. "She's still here."

"She is? After everything?" Keira perks up. "Interesting."

"She's not like that."

"Like what? Naked in your bed? In a sexy nurse costume taking care of you?"

I scowl. "She's distant. Awkward. Keeps checking my bandages and leaving before I can say anything. Today I noticed she made me coffee. I thought maybe we'd talk. But no, she starts askingabout fighter tournaments, moving into her own place, like we're back to being work colleagues."

Keira lifts a brow. "You're not?"

"I don't know what we are."

"And it's bothering you?" she asks.

"Of course it's fucking bothering me. She's—" I stop, not sure how to finish that sentence without sounding even more pathetic.

"Okay, so you care about her," Keira says softly. It's not a question either.

I don't answer, which is answer enough.

Keira sighs. "Maybe this isn't such a bad thing, Dec. She comes with a lot of baggage, and we've got other things to focus on. Like another hit."

That gets my attention, but I keep it locked up. "More feathers?"

"Yeah. Callum's handling it for now, but he's freaking out. Running things is new to him."

I nod absently. "Shane's following up on some leads. Give me another week and I'll be back at it."

Keira stares at me through the screen, her eyes narrowing. "You're not even listening to me, are you?"

"I am."

"Bullshit, I can tell. You can lie to others, but not me," Keira says and shakes her head. "I doubt your lack of focus and overall demeanor are just about your injuries, so have you told her?"

"Told her what?"

"Your favorite color. Jesus, Dec, how you feel about her."

"Well," I sit up straighter, "I mean, yeah."

She rolls her eyes. "Like, in your own weird Declan way, or like a human being. Did you say the words? 'Lyra, I like you, I want this to work, please stop being a stubborn ass and let me in.' Something like that?"

I shift uncomfortably and exhale. "Kind of. Fuck, I don't know. I said enough."

She nods. "And? She didn't feel the same way?"