“I don’t know,” she said as she finished the stitches and looked at me. “Will you require pain killers or do you think you can tough it out?”
“If I say yes, does that mean I can’t have a drink?” I wondered.
“That’s exactly what it means,” Levi informed me as he began to pour.
“Then fuck pain killers, I want some of that rum,” I said with a snort.
Nic finished up. “Do I need to go over the proper procedure for care and maintenance? Or remind you not to do anything that would reopen the wound for a few weeks? And considering the size of you, and how I’m sure that was no accident, yes, that includes working out.”
“Oh, God, Miller is gonna kill me,” I groaned, slapping my face and grimacing when the motion tightened my stomach. “Ow.”
“I’m assuming his trainer?” Nic asked as she took the glass Levi offered her.
“I assume so, he’s never mentioned him by name before,” Levi said as he held out a glass to me with more rum than usual.
I took it gratefully. “Probably because I’ve been on leave, I don’t have a better way of putting it. But I said that if Miller was going to do that to me, then I didn’t want to see his ugly mug or hear his annoying ass voice the whole time.”
“You...are on leave?” Levi asked, and I winced when I heard the accusation in his voice. Which wasnotfair, there was plenty about his life he didn’t tell me, and I wasnotgoing to feel bad about doing the same to him.
“Yeah, and it’s almost up. I’m supposed to be going back into training next week, and?—”
“Next week?” Levi asked softly. “That would be the sort of information I need to know if I’m going to find a way to make this work for you.”
“I’ll just tell him I got into a bar fight. He’ll be pissed no matter what.”
“And when he asks how you got stitched?”
“I had someone who knew how to do it, shit happens.”
“You will more than likely be required to go to a licensed physician to confirm the wound is in good shape. They’ll notice someone who knows what they’re doing stitched you up,” Nic pointed out as she drained her glass.
“Fine, someone who was a medic in the army or whatever stitched me up,” I said with a frown. “You don’t have to go through extra shit just to cover things up, not all the time. I can lie too, Levi.”
“Good to know,” he said dryly.
“I’ve heard worse plans,” Nic said, setting the glass down. “But with that, my job here is done.”
“You’ll find the money in your account,” Levi told her. “Along with extra for making this a rush job. If it doesn’t cover it, let me know.”
“If there is one thing I know I can count on, it’s you being more than generous in paying me,” she said with a snort. “Just try to keep this one away from sharp objects.”
“I will do my best,” he said, and I wondered just what sort of things he was planning. My worst fear was that this was going to send him soaring back over the line and keep me away again. After all the time we’d spent together over the past few weeks, I didn’t think I would ever be able to go back to not having him in my life again. I didn’t look forward to the argument that awaited us when Nic was gone, and Levi tried to push things. “How long will you be in town?”
“I have some business to attend to, but I should be around for a while yet. Why? Are you planning on having me show up again?” she asked dryly.
“I’m at war with Los Muertos,” he told her.
That was the first time I saw genuine emotion flit over her, her skin seeming to draw back even tighter, and her eyes widening. “I see. Then perhaps I will stick around a little longer. I can push to a few months, and after that...I won’t be as readily on call.”
Levi shot her a grateful smile. “That would work just fine. And I appreciate it.”
“I certainly hope so,” she said tersely before grabbing her bag. “Call me should you need anything...I hope you don’t.”
Levi raised a brow. “I will, and thank you.”
She gave a soft ‘hmph’ and left without another word.
“Feeling better?” Levi asked from his chair, dangling his drink in front of him idly.
