“I’m sorry.” His voice was rough, thick with mucus and strained from yelling.
“Don’t. You have nothing to apologize for.”
“I hurt you.”
Her palm rested on the side of his face. She pulled against the arm banded around her upper back, and he attempted to relax his hold.
“I’m not hurt,” she said softly. “I was a little uncomfortable when my hip cramped, but it’s fine. It’s cramped worse during sex.”
He appreciated she was trying to joke, but he still didn’t like causing her any discomfort.
“I’m sorry you had to see me like that.”
“Like what? A human with emotions? Christian, look at me.”
He slowly raised his gaze to hers.
“This is not your fault. You could not have prevented it. Say it.”
She didn’t get it. “If I had?—”
“No. I understand you’re upset and you feel responsible, but you are not. You’re not Melanie’s dad and you’re not responsible for her mom’s decisions. You can’t keep taking the weight of the world on your shoulders—it will crush you.”
Intellectually, he knew she was right. Emotionally? Not so much.
“I don’t know what to do,” he admitted.
“Neither do I, but we’ll figure it out. Together.”
He swallowed hard and cupped her face. He didn’t deserve her. She’d seen him at his worst, and she was still there, still letting him hold her. And in that moment, he wouldn’t have let her go if the building was on fire.
“I love you.”
Her smile was soft and built slowly. “I love you too.”
Their kiss was gentle, sweet. There was no heat behind it, just a silent promise. The promise he was making to her.
They broke apart at the knock on the door.
“Come in,” Abby called.
Dani stuck her head around the door. “Hey. Katherine called. They’re heading to the hospital. They asked if you were up to going—I said I’d ask.”
“Can you?” Tinker asked. He didn’t know if he could handle it right then without Abby.
“Yes,” Abby said. “Let’s go see Melanie.”
The waiting room was full of his VACA brothers and sisters, most of them wearing their vests. Katherine was talking to a woman wearing scrubs when they arrived, and Pothole hovered close by.
The nurse walked down the hall and Katherine approached them. “Hey.”
Katherine pulled Tinker into a tight hug, and he tucked his head into her neck. She slowly eased back and assessed him closely. “Melanie is still out of it, but they’re going to let us go back a few at a time to sit with her.”
“How bad is it?” Tinker asked.
Abby slipped her hand back into his and squeezed. He squeezed back. He’d barely let go of her hand to get in and out of the car. She’d had to sit in the middle between him and Dani because he refused to let go of her. She grounded him and as long as she was close, he kept his shit in check.
“Her arm is broken.” Katherine drew his attention back. “Two of her ribs are cracked. Her face looks bad, but nothing is broken.”
