“Five minutes. Say your piece and get out.” She points to the board where CALL ME BEFORE ANYTHING is circled in stars. “No more drama. You bring that to my room again, and you can FaceTime your friend from the parking lot.”
Hollister clears his throat and drags his palms down his jeans.
“I am sorry,” he says to me, not looking away from Dom. “It’s a little raw between us. And Dom did say he didn’t care.”
“Sounds like he does,” Mas mumbles, looking at no one.
“I don’t.” Dom stuffs his hands in his pockets. “But this fucking idiot running his mouth about my mom in a threesome . . . who wouldn’t jump his dumb ass.”
“It’s your fault for having a hot as fuck mom,” I say, licking the last drop off the straw because I want my hot nurse to watch me do it. “Holli Balls must think so, or else he wouldn’t be buried deep in her every night.”
Holli surges, as if he has forgotten the rules. Mas steps into him and shuts him down. Dom’s head snaps up, murder in his eyes. The monitor chirps a warning when my heart rate drops. Sofia does not even turn. Her palm lands on my sternum with firm pressure, and the beat listens.
“Enough, Nene. You’re causing trouble. Stop it.”
Holli blows out a breath and backs off two steps, palms up. “I’m out of here.”
Dom follows, flashing double birds. “We’re both out of here.”
Mas glances at my hottie. She nods at the door. He herds them with a look, acting all bouncer and big brother. They move. At the threshold, Holli finally looks at me. “Heal up, man.”
Dom gives me nothing. He stares past me to my leg suspended in traction, then at my nurse. As if insulted, then he’s gone. The door shuts. The room shrinks back to the three of us. Exactly how it should be. I lie there, breathing like she told me. Staring at her DSLs, waiting for her to tell me I’m a good boy for not touching anything.
“You are chaos,” she says, not looking at me. Insults rather than praise. I don’t like it. I pout, crossing my arms over my chest. “You attract more chaos. Do not do that in here.”
“I want to attract you. That is the only chaos I want.”
Her mouth threatens a smile and betrays her for half a second. She tucks the blanket at my hip, walks to the board, and writes STOP CAUSING TROUBLE in red with another little star. She turns, caps her marker, and plants her knuckles on her small waist to look at me again.
“You will nap. You will not touch anything. You will let your brother go eat, leave, or take a break. If you feel pain, you use the button. I’ll come back to check on you.”
“But I’ll be lonely by myself. If Massimo leaves and you leave, then who will keep me company?”
I pull at the sheets, hating the idea of being in this place by myself. Mas steps forward, his hand on my railing. She joins him.
“Perrito,” she warns, but her eyes are warm now. “Sleep. Your brother needs rest like you.”
Her hand slides to my temple, a touch light as breath. The world dulls at the edges. My ribs ache less. Mas eases back, but his eyes are glued on me.
“Close your eyes. Practice your breathing, and we’ll be here when you awake.”
So I closed my eyes because she asked. I keep them closed because I can feel her still there. Waiting for the swish of her too-tight scrubs.
“Good boy.”
CHAPTER 5
MASSIMO
Watching Em hit on the nurse brings me comfort. It means he’s not going to die. No brain damaged. Or at least not any more than before. Thank fuck for that. And I won’t lose my brother due to my own neglect. The doctor’s reports have been coming in steadily now.
My parents have gone home to shower, eat, and take care of things. I assured them we’d be okay. That I wasn’t going anywhere and certainly wasn’t letting him out of my sight. The few times I’ve left have been when his nurse kicks me out. She’s caring in her own harsh way.
It doesn’t faze my brother. He just hits on her harder, hoping to break past that shell of hers.
The only other time I left was to cry in the chapel with Holli. He didn’t say much, just kept his hand planted on my shoulder. It was enough. He’s been here just as much as Diego. The ICU lightened their visit policy for us. Or for Em and the tons of people coming to check on him.
Bro has lots of friends. Never made an enemy unless it’s a new boyfriend and he fucked their girl or a dude at a bar who gets sick of his mouth. Otherwise, everyone loves him. But Diego is gone today, having to get back to class.
