“Including yourself in that statement, Lieutenant Hughes?” I walked around the end of his bed until I was up by his head, and when Panther turned to look at me, I saw a kind of…wonder in his eyes.
“Yeah, I guess I am. I was determined not to like you with your I-don’t-give-a-fuck attitude, but…”
“But?”
Panther’s bloodshot eyes fell to my mouth, and he sighed. “When you weren’t here, I—”
When Panther cut himself off, I placed a hand on the rail and leaned over him. “Don’t you dare stop there. You…?”
Panther licked his lips as though trying to decide whether or not to admit what he was thinking. “I really wished you were.”
My heart all but stopped. It was honest, raw, and so unexpected that I wanted to kick myself in the ass for having stayed away. What the hell had I been thinking, leaving him here alone to deal with all this shit—because I’d been, what, scared? How the hell must he have felt?
“I’m sorry,” I whispered, and leaned down until my forehead rested against his. “I was busy being a fucking idiot.”
When Panther chuckled, I raised my head and stroked my fingers down his cheek. “But I’m done now, and you’re stuck with me. Seventy-two hours of forced confinement. Think you can handle it?”
Panther reached up to take my hand and squeezed my fingers. “I ejected out of a plane plummeting to the ocean at a million miles per hour and survived. I’m pretty sure I can handle being stuck with you for three days.”
“You sure about that?”
Panther grinned and then let out a half cough, half chuckle. “I don’t know. But I’m looking forward to finding out.”
5Panther
THE TAXI DRIVER pulled into my parking space in front of my temporary apartment on base, and it was then that I realized I’d completely forgotten about my motorcycle still sitting all by its lonesome at NAFTA.
“I would’ve driven that sweet ride of yours back here if I didn’t think you’d castrate me for touching it.” Solo gave me a crooked smile, handed the driver a wad of cash, and then rounded the cab before I could pop open my door.
“Uh ah,” Solo said, as he reached behind me to help lift me out of the back seat. “You’re not supposed to do anything physical, and that includes opening doors.”
“Or getting out of the car by myself, apparently. I think I can manage, but thanks.”
I tried to push him off, but the guy wasn’t budging. He wrapped one of my arms around his neck and took me by the waist, helping me up onto the sidewalk, which really wasn’t necessary.
“Solo, I can walk—”
“We can’t afford to have any accidents, now can we? So shut up and give me your key.”
One thing Iwasgrateful for was that he’d thought to get my wallet and keys out of my locker for me. I’d have to change the combination when I got back to keep the nosy fucker out, but for now I was thankful I wouldn’t have to go get them myself. Just moving from the required hospital wheelchair into the taxi and now to my room was enough pain and exhaustion, but I wasn’t about to give Solo the satisfaction that maybe he was right about me needing help.
He got the door open and had me inside in record time, but when he kicked the door shut behind us, I realized he wasn’t planning on going anywhere.
“Damn, who brought the balloons from the hospital?” I said, batting the long strands of ribbon out of the way as he walked me to my bed. There seemed to be even more filling the room now, as well as the vases of flowers. “Don’t tell me you managed all these on your bike.”
“I’m guessing your parents are responsible for the breaking and entering.” Once he’d lowered me onto the bed, he walked to the windows and pushed the curtains open, letting in June gloom in all its glory. It would be sunny soon, though, always breaking through the grey after noon or so.
“So. What are you hungry for?”
“You really don’t need to do this. I can feed myself.”
“Oh? You gonna hop on your bike and go get something? Walk over to the mess hall?” Solo snorted. “I don’t think so.”
“I’ll just order something.”
Solo snapped his fingers. “Yes, we’ll order something. Great idea.” He pulled his phone out of his pocket and began typing. “I know nothing will sound as appetizing as gourmet Jell-O and unspecified meat, but surely there’s something you can stomach.”
“Ugh. Anything sounds better than that.” Even though my throat was still sore, I’d happily eat glass over whatever meat they gave me for dinner last night. I was determined to get out of the hospital, though, so I’d eaten every last bite like it was the best thing I’d ever tasted.
