Page 43 of Nothing to You (Nothing to… #7)

FLIGHT OVER, SHE got into the slowest cab in the city. Okay, yeah, maybe it just felt that way, but seriously? What was taking so long?

By the time he stopped, she didn’t need to hear the fare.

She’d been watching every cent tick up. Tossing a bunch of bills at him, she heaved her hold-all onto her shoulder, along with her purse and laptop.

Shit. She hadn’t been thinking straight.

Did she need her laptop? Right then, all she needed was to get into the hospital. To see her mom.

Running into the closest door, she didn’t slow and lurched over the admin desk under her own momentum.

“I need…” Out of breath, her chest tightened. “My mom was brought here from a—”

“Radley.”

Somehow, the word cut through all the background noise. She turned toward it and there he was, standing just ten feet away.

Rourke.

Her hands opened; her shoulders dropped. As every muscle loosened, her bags fell to the floor on either side of her. Nothing else existed. There he was. Right there.

She took one step, then another, until she was less than a foot away.

“You’re pissed about the—”

“Shut up,” she exhaled and grabbed his collar, yanking his mouth down to hers.

He’d come. There. For her. Not for anyone else. Because she couldn’t be there soon enough. Her guilt at the distance had pained her, caused her actual pain. The shame, the guilt… Just like that, it was all gone.

His hands squeezed her waist before continuing around to her back until she was in his embrace, tipped back, absorbing the growing heat of his kiss.

Laying a hand on his chest, she eased him back an inch. “You came here.”

“You were in New York.”

“When? How long have you been here?”

“Since this morning. When I got the call.”

Her eyes closed as relief escaped her lips. “Thank God.”

“You’re not mad?” She could only smile and kiss him again. This time, he tore his lips from hers. “I didn’t think you’d want me here.”

“Why?” she asked, stroking his cheek. “I was so far and I—”

“I know. She’s getting the best care in the private wing and don’t give me shit about—”

“I’m sorry.” Her apology provoked his frown. “We don’t do ultimatums, we don’t. And you have the right to love whoever you love. Real and permanent, right?”

Except he didn’t seem so sure and drew out his response. “Right.”

“Can you take me to see her? We can work us out later, but—”

“You want to see her,” he said, holding her at his side until she got her balance again. “Yes, you can see her.”

“Let me get my—” except when she turned, there was already a young man holding her things.

Rourke’s hand slid around her jaw to bring her focus to his. “You’ve got nothing to worry about, you hear me?” Intense in a way that wasn’t arousal; his certainty touched her clarity. “I’ll always take care of you.”

And he meant it. She didn’t need him to say it, not really.

Yes, she’d doubted it in the confusion of Diva, not him, but them.

Like she’d come to her senses, it seemed he’d figured it out too.

This wasn’t a typical friendship. They were soulmates, in the platonic sense of the word.

Meant to be, to rely on each other, not for marriage and kids, but for forever.

Roxie and the other girls wouldn’t understand it. She wasn’t sure she did either. The sex was fun. Amazing. But they’d survive without it. The only thing they wouldn’t survive without was each other.

His hand stayed in hers on the ascent and trek to the private wing. A security guard had to buzz them in.

A uniformed nurse hurried over as they approached the central nurses’ station.

“Ms. Radley, your mother is doing very well. Her vitals are strong. She’s showing excellent recovery. We do plan to keep her in for observation over the next few days. Mr. Rourke has given his permission and promised to cover all expenses.

“We’re also bringing in a private psychiatric nurse to be with her twenty-four hours while a dedicated team assesses all of her needs. We’ll ensure everything is taken care of.”

Hiding her smile, she turned her eyes up to his. “Show off.” He just winked. “Can I see her?”

“Your mother?” the nurse asked. “Yes.”

“Is she awake?”

The nurse walked backward, gesturing for them to follow. “Yes, well, she’s in and out. Don’t be distressed to see—”

“The restraints, I know,” she said. “I’ve been through this before.”

Her mother would calm down again. They would find a level. Until the next time anyway.

“She’s just in here,” the nurse said and opened a door for them.

The curtain was pulled around the bed. But she was in there. Her mom.

Just like every other time, she inhaled and held the breath.

This time there was no panic. She wasn’t even afraid.

The calm had everything to do with the man holding her hand.

Without looking at him, she raised his knuckles to her lips and brushed them back and forth a few times before kissing them.

They’d been at no risk of losing each other.

They were each other’s default. Forgetting that, even for a second, was idiotic.

“Thank you,” she said to the nurse. “Can you give us a minute?”

The nurse nodded and scurried off.

When she tried to go inside, Rourke held back. “I’ll give you privacy.”

“Yeah, you will,” she said, without letting go, “while you’re at my side. You don’t get to wriggle out of it.” He didn’t resist again, and they went in together, stopping at the bottom corner of the curtain. “Mom?”

Pushing the curtain back, the sight on the other side didn’t surprise her. Slightly reclined, the sheets over her mother’s lap hid her hands.

“Roux.”

And she was awake. Thank God. One of these times, her mom wouldn’t wake up. Whether it was by her own hand or age, her mother would be gone one day. They weren’t close. A patchwork of people made up their family. Related by blood, but with little in common.

Going over to sit on the bed, she finger combed her mom’s hair from her face. “How are you feeling, Ma?”

“Your boyfriend is very generous.”

“Yes, he is,” she said and glanced back. “I don’t need to introduce you, do I?”

“No, Mel and I are old friends now.”

“Now that’s a meeting I’m sorry I missed.”

“Xavien said you are working in New York.”

“I was, yes.”

“New York,” her mom said, her chin going to the side as she beamed. “That’s the big city, honey. You’ve made it.”

“Thank you, yes. And what about you?” she asked, pushing aside the covers to unfasten the restraint on her bandaged arm. “Why, Momma? Why do you hurt yourself like this?”

Her mother frowned. “We’re a number in that place. No one cares. They would’ve let me die if that assessor person hadn’t been there.”

“Assessor?”

“For their accreditation,” Rourke said, sliding a hand onto her shoulder from behind.

“Rourke, your friend, he says I don’t have to go back there.”

Twisting, she looked at him over her shoulder for an explanation.

“Didn’t we already pick a place closer to us?” he asked.

“Yes, but…”

Fuck. She couldn’t swear, her mom didn’t like it. In a manic phase, her mom could make a sailor blush, but when she was coming down again, anything could set her off again.

His brows rose. “But…?”

Sucking her teeth, she surrendered in a whisper. “We have to talk about boundaries.”

His expression sharpened. “Have you been talking to Z?”

“I’m getting tired,” her mom said, her eyes closing.

“We’ll let you sleep, okay?”

“No, stay,” her mom said, grabbing for her. “Stay until I’m asleep.”

“Okay,” she said, bringing her mom’s hand to her cheek. “We’ll stay. We’re here.”