Fear ate at me, and Aspen pressed a kiss to my temple.
“You’re not leaving tonight, and you might not leave tomorrow. Settle in.” Dr. Bautista nodded at Aspen. “Listen to this guy. I see you’re diabetic. The hospital has a policy that you can’t use a pump here, so we’ll be unhooking that in a bit.”
I sighed. “I won’t let it run out. I’ll send someone home for insulin.”
This time he actually did look sorry. “I trust you, but it’s policy.”
“Fan-fucking-tastic. I love being stabbed over and over for no reason.”
“It’s so we can keep track of your insulin and—”
“I know,” I snapped. “But I don’t have to love it.”
“Relax,” Dr. Bautista said as he walked backward. “I’ll check on you personally tomorrow.” He smiled, and I groaned. Aspen studied me, and I stared at my feet, but I could see him out of the corner of my eye.
“Don’t be that way.” He lightly knocked his forehead against my temple. “You’re never quiet.”
I shrugged. I was mad about being here, even though I knew it wasn’t his fault. He’d saved me, but I couldn’t make myself stop seething. To my surprise he didn’t let go of me, only held me while he took out his phone and texted.
“Don’t worry Vail,” I grumbled.
He kissed my cheek, a sweet, lingering press of his mouth on my skin. That type of kiss was so not even what I’d thought I’d be getting tonight, but a warmth swam through my stomach that didn’t have anything to do with the medication beginning to pump through my body.
“It doesn’t matter what I say, he’ll be worried. He already asked if he could come see you.” Aspen’s brown eyes plainly said he was sorry.
“Will you stay the night?” I whispered, bracing myself for him to say no, or tell me all about whatever bullshit thing he had to go help Cillian with.
“I’m doing what I want to do tonight. I planned to spend time with you.”
“Yeah, well, I bet this isn’t what you had in mind. You got ripped off.” I tried to laugh, but it hurt, and I’d somehow made myself feel bad, on top of everything else.
“No, I didn’t,” he said firmly. He helped me to turn and lean back against the pillows when a nurse bustled in to take my vitals. “I’m going to go make a few phone calls. Listen to her. Be good, okay?”
I nodded as he disappeared out the door, but I couldn’t stop smiling.
The nurse gave me a sympathetic grin of her own that had me sighing. “You’re here to steal my insulin pump, aren’t you?”
“Afraid so.”
“Go ahead,” I grumbled and closed my eyes as I leaned back to get comfortable for fuck knew how long. I hated hospitals.
5
ASPEN
Cillian textedan hour after Fallon was given painkillers to sleep the night away. Fallon was in and out of slumber, though. He tried his best to stay awake, but he hadn’t succeeded. At least these meds didn’t make him say crazy stuff like the Oxy the New Gothenburg doctor—or as I’d found out later at the Kings’ party, a Physician Assistant—had given him.
My phone buzzed again.
Cillian:We’re here. Vail wants to see Fallon.
Sighing, I stood and checked on Fallon one more time. He was dozing, his blond lashes fluttering against his cheeks. Every so often he let out a little grunt, but as the minutes went on it was becoming less and less, as though the pain was finally subsiding. He’d asked for something more potent, but the nurses outright told him no, explaining stronger meds would be dangerous for him in his current condition.
I sent a text to Cillian.
Aspen:Where are you?
A message came back immediately.
