Page 59 of Pervade Montego Bay

“He’ll be worried if he doesn’t hear from us.”

“You two weren’t talking, remember? Well, not in the conventional sense.”

He flashed me a wary look and it seemed as though the memory of him taunting Xavier had just popped into his mind.

“I was dreaming,” he said.

“About?”

James slid into an uneasy smile.

I smiled back at him. “You need to tell Xavier that when you see him.”

He blinked at me. “I fought against us. He didn’t deserve…any of it.”

“Well, you’ve had a scare. It redefines everything.”

“It helps you see what’s important.”

The affectionate way he looked at me made my body tingle. “Can I get you anything, James?”

“Is that the bathroom?” He sat up and swung his legs around the end of the bed. He took a moment to steady his balance then unattached himself from the various monitoring devices and silenced the machines. “Can you help me with my IV?”

I rushed around to make sure he didn’t fall. “You’re not to get out of bed.”

“I’ve never been one to follow the rules.”

“But…still…”

He wrapped his arm around my shoulders and stood, leaning on me for balance.

I reached for the IV pole. “Let me get the nurse.”

“Can’t pee with an audience.”

Together, with me nudging the IV pole forward, we shuffled into the bathroom.

“You’re going to have to step out, Em.” He glanced back and realized I wasn’t leaving. “You’re as stubborn as him.”

“Yet not as stubborn as you.” I scooped up the small plastic container the nurse had left behind. “Here, the nurse told me that if you pee, they need a sample.”

He reluctantly took it from me.

I moved toward the sink and turned on a tap. “It’s supposed to help.”

“If you say so. I need you to charge my phone.”

“I’ve already told you why that’s not a good idea.”

He sighed. “I’m an idiot.”

“Will you hurry up and pee?”

“It’s very hard when you’re barking orders.” He let out a sigh. “I’ve put so many people at risk.”

“How?”

“By being unavailable.”