Kelly nods, settling back.
I step aside but don’t leave.I watch everything every question, every hesitation, every flicker of uncertainty in her expression.
The doctor holds up fingers; Kelly names them correctly.She asks her the month, she gets close, but is off naming last month.Her birthday?She remembers.
Favorite pastry?She says blueberry scone.That sends a strange flutter through me because that was the first thing she ever baked for me, months ago, after I teased her that her croissants were overrated.Those blueberry scones are my favorite while raspberry cheesecake croissants are hers.
But when he asks if she remembers driving, or anything from earlier in week, her face goes blank.
A void.A perfect absence of me.
When the doctor leaves, I sink into the chair again.My body feels twice as heavy as it did yesterday.
“You look tired,” she observes.
“Didn’t sleep much.”
“Because of me?”My gaze snaps to her.“Because someone put you in a ditch on purpose.”
She flinches.I grit my teeth.
“Sorry,” I mutter.“Didn’t mean to be blunt.”
“No,” she whispers.“I need blunt.Everything else feels slippery.”
I nod once.There’s a soft tap at the door, and Ally slips back inside with a coffee and a bag that smells like pastries.Her eyes look swollen, she’s been crying again.
“Hey,” she says gently, moving to Kelly’s side.
Kelly gives her a shaky smile.“Hey.”
Ally sets the coffee down, squeezes her hand, then swings a glare at me.“Now that I’ve had time to process, what the hell happened?”
“Still working on that,” I answer for Kelly.
“That’s not comforting,” she fires back.
“It wasn’t meant to be.”I give the damn truth.
She narrows her eyes, but she’s too emotional to fight properly.Good.I’m not in the mood either.
Kelly shifts slightly, drawing both our attention.“When can I leave?”
“Tomorrow morning,” Ally replies.“And yes, you’re staying with me.”
“She isn’t,” I correct quietly.
Ally opens her mouth, ready to unleash a rant, but Kelly raises a weak hand.“Can we… not fight over me like I’m a lost puppy?”
That shuts both of us up.I clear my throat.“You’re not a puppy.You’re a target.Until we know why, you stay under protection.”
Kelly frowns.“Protection like from the club?I do remember the Kings of Anarchy.Ally’s in love with the president Chux, but I can’t remember how that started.”
“Yes.The Kings will protect you.”
Ally folds her arms.“And by protection, you of course meanspyingon her while she sleeps, right?”
Kelly’s cheeks flush, mine heat for a different reason because Kelly and I haven’t spent a ton of time together at her place sleeping.“Jesus Christ,” I mutter.“No.”
