"Seemed appropriate." He tugs me closer, and I sit on the edge of the bed, careful not to jostle him. "Besides, I was tired of hiding. And you were spiraling."
"I was not spiraling."
"You told them the fate of homeless animals depended on our conversation."
"Okay, I was spiraling a little."
He laughs, then winces, pressing his hand to his head.
"Don't laugh!" I grab his shoulders, steadying him. "Your brain is broken!"
"My brain is not broken. It's just... rattled."
"That's the same thing!"
"Devon." He takes my hand, threading our fingers together. "I'm okay. I promise."
I take a moment to look at him. His eyes are clear, focused. His smile is real. He's here, he's awake, he'sfine.
The adrenaline drains out of me all at once, and I slump forward, resting my forehead against his shoulder.
"You scared the shit out of me," I mumble into his hospital gown.
"I know. I'm sorry."
"Don't do it again."
"I'll try not to."
We sit like that for a long moment, just being, and slowly my heart rate returns to something resembling normal.
"For the record," Ace says quietly, "that was a really good kiss."
I lift my head to look at him. "Yeah?"
"Yeah." He grins. "Worth coming out for."
And despite everything—despite the hospital, the concussion, the terror of the last hour—I find myself smiling too. "Damn right it was."
CHAPTER 27
ACE
THE APARTMENT DOOR closes behind me and I'm already pulling off my gym shoes, my muscles pleasantly sore from the workout, when my phone starts buzzing in my pocket.
I don't even need to look at the screen. I already know who it is. My mouth curves up involuntarily, and I pull out my phone to confirm what I already know.
"Hey," I answer, aiming for casual and probably missing by a mile.
"According to the spreadsheet, you're free for the next five hours," Devon's voice comes from the other end.
I stifle a chuckle. "I am."
"That's good, because I have an emergency."
"What kind of emergency?" I ask, brows furrowed.
"A dickergency."
