“Listen to me,” I say, conviction filling my voice. “Bethany might not fully appreciate what she just went through, but I do.”
Jax frowns at me. “What are you saying?”
I take a breath. “What I’m saying is, I think we should let Bethany decide whether she wants to go to the hospital. And if she doesn’t want to go, I can stay with her and keep an eye on her for a while.
I’m getting tongue-tied. I glance at Jax anxiously. To my surprise he’s . . . grinning. “What’s so funny?”
“Just how nervous you are.” Jax’s voice is calmer now, borderline bemused. “I’ve never seen you like this, bro.”
“Seen me like what?”
Jax puts his hand on my shoulder. “Dude. You like my sister. It’s okay. I’m cool with it. I’ve known since that night at the Pulaski. The way you were looking at her . . . I mean, I’m pretty sure the whole bar knew that Mr. I-Don’t-Get-Attached got shot straight through the heart that night.”
“And you’re seriously cool with it?”
“Cool with it? Dude . . . I’m thrilled! Think of the double date possibilities.”
Relief and happiness fill me to the brim as I laugh at Jax’s last comment. “Man, that is so great to hear. So, I was actually going to —”
“Ask for my permission back at the station. Yeah, I figured as much.”
“So, if you knew this whole time, why didn’t you . . . I don’t know . . . just give me your blessing?”
Jax gives me a pitying look. “Instead of waiting to see if you were willing to finally come out of your little shell and actually put yourself in a vulnerable position? Where’s the fun in that?”
I smile wryly. “Touché, brother. Touché. But be honest — if I hadn’t rescued Bethany from the jaws of death tonight, would you be feeling so positive about the prospect of us dating?”
Jax smiles faintly. “Good question, bro. Guess we’ll never find out.”
I smirk. He does too. Then he looks at me more seriously and says, “So, I guess since you’re in charge of my sister’s wellbeing tonight, you gotta promise me these three things: one, you’ll get her home safely; two, you’ll hang out with her for a bit, keeping a close eye on her in case she develops symptoms of severe smoke inhalation, chemical poisoning or whatever else; and three . . . uh . . . good luck, I guess. My sister isn’t always the easiest person to deal with.”
I extend my hand. “I find your terms acceptable.”
We shake hands and Jax takes the opportunity to lean in, and whisper in my ear, “If you hurt her, I willbeat the living shit out of you.”
I almost make a crack about how he couldn’t with his puny little eighteen-inch biceps. But something stops me. Probably just how deadly serious he sounded when he made the threat. “That’s one thing you don’t have to worry about, brother.”
I return to Bethany’s side. She smiles at me and asks, “What was that all about?”
“I talked it over with Jax, and you don’t have to go to the hospital. But one of us has to stay with you tonight just in case you develop chest pain or difficultly breathing. I volunteered. I mean, if that’s what you want, and if you’re okay with me, uh . . .”
“Nursing me back to good health? I think I can live with that. You’ve done a great job the first time,” Bethany says.
“The first time I didn’t even get to use my arms.”
“Your arms? How would that work?”
“Well, I’d embrace you in a bear hug and squeeze the smoke out of you.”
“Um . . . I think I prefer to be carried away in those arms, not squeezed.”
I step closer to Bethany and sweep her off the ground. “As you wish, my lady.”
“I’m not too heavy, I am?”
I throw her up in the air a few times. “You’re as light as a feather.”
“Oh, good. In that case, I’d love for you to take me home. I think I’ve had enough excitement for one day.”
