Hen looks momentarily stunned, but says, “Fine. Let’s go talk.”
Zara and Pres exchange worried glances, concern etched on both their faces.
“You okay if I step away for a bit?” I ask her. She quickly nods. “I’ll be in the stockroom if you need anything.”
“Okay.”
Hendrix hops off his stool as I step up to the bar, leaning over so only Pres can hear me. “It’s gonna be okay, remember?”
She nods again. “Don’t beat up my brother. He looks scary, but he’s really just a softie.”
I choke out a laugh. “I’ll be sure to tell him you said that.”
“Don’t you dare.”
“I love you.”
Her expression softens. “I love you too.”
I turn to see Hendrix watching us. When his gaze meets mine, he turns and slips into the crowd without saying a word.
That’s fine. He can find the stockroom himself. It’s not like he doesn’t know where it is.
Once again, it takes a while to reach the other side of the bar. Luckily, there’s no catcalling this time, but I still need to point out the bathroom again. I also see more than my fair share of weird costumes.
I don’t know how Hendrix manages to avoid being recognized.
Or how he beats me.
“It’s the costume,” he says with a shrug when I give him a quizzical look, stopping in front of the stockroom door. He’s leaning against it as if he’s been standing there for ages. His sandy-brown hair is buzzed short on the sides and longer on top.The scrubs do little to conceal all his ink, including the signature Creed tattoo on his inner forearm. “No one expects to see me in scrubs. I’m honestly thinking about buying them in bulk and just wearing them to the grocery store. Maybe on our next date.”
“Sure. ’Cause plenty of doctors go to the movies straight from the OR.”
“I would. These things are hella comfortable.”
I step up to the stockroom door and punch in the keypad. He watches in silence. “This is new.”
I slowly swallow. “A lot of things around here are new.”
“I can see that.”
I guess joke time is over. “Come on.” I push the door open. “It’s quiet in here. We can talk.”
He follows me inside and looks around. Pres has done a decent job replenishing the supply since Jace emptied her out, but it still looks sparse compared to what it used to be.
But I doubt Hendrix ever came in here enough to notice.
Besides, he’s got other things on his mind.
“So how long have you two been lying to me?”
“Hendrix, it’s not?—”
He holds up a hand. “Hollis, I just found out my sister got married. Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m really glad it’s you and not that other guy. But I’m just trying to figure out why she didn’t tell me. So maybe you start from the beginning, yeah?”
At one point in my life, I would have placed my loyalty to Hendrix above everything else. After all, he saved me.
From those assholes in that school hallway. From my mom.
