Dylan frowned, thinking hard. “I don’t think so.”
“Can you tell me the time and date, and where we are right now?”
Dylan answered without any problems, and August proceeded to run down a list of questions that Steve recognized from his first aid training when dealing with possible concussions. August continued his assessment by looking at Dylan’s eyes with the flashlight on his phone, examining his response to light and movement, and then having him follow his finger and copy a few movements.
“I don’t think you have a concussion,” August said when he was done, rising up and patting Dylan’s shoulder.
“That’s good.” Dylan glanced up, looking at him and Ryker, ducking his head the second he made eye contact.
“I’m glad you’re okay,” Steve said, remembering what Marcus had said and forcing himself to speak over his desire to bury his face in his hands and hide. “I’m so sorry my dad tried to hurt you.”
“It’s not your fault,” Dylan said, his shoulders relaxing a fraction of an inch.
He really had been worried that Steve would be angry with him. The knowledge made Steve want to throw up again.
“I was thinking we could go back to the hotel, and then if you’re up to it, leave Fairbanks tomorrow morning and go back to Fort Plainslac,” Ryker said, resorting to pragmatic planning in the face of Dylan’s distress. “Does that sound okay, or would you like to stay here for the night?”
“The hotel.” Dylan’s answer was immediate. “Can we leave now?”
“Of course,” Ryker said. He turned to Steve. “Can you get your car and pull up in front of the house?”
Steve nodded, relieved to have something to do. He bit his lip, looking at Dylan and wondering if he should say something, but nothing came to mind. He turned to Ryker instead. “I’ll be outside in three minutes.”
He couldn’t get out of the room fast enough.
50
RYKER
Ryker leaned against the wall by the window, watching the door to the bathroom and listening to the sound of Dylan taking a shower. Dylan had insisted on going into the bathroom alone, which left Ryker, August and Steve all standing around awkwardly as they listened for any sign that he needed help.
“His hair was wet when we left the house,” Steve said, coming to stand next to Ryker.
Ryker was aware.
“He’s still in shock,” August said. He took a seat on the edge of the bed, tapping his foot on the carpeted floor with restless agitation.
“We should get changed,” Ryker said, pushing away from the wall. They were all still wearing their snowsuits and heavy winter boots, and even though they’d taken off the top halves, they were sweltering in the comfortable seventy-degree hotel room. He kicked off his boots one at a time and pushed the snowsuit down to his ankles, taking it off.
“Good idea,” August said, standing up and following his lead.
Steve didn’t say anything, but he, too, started taking off his boots and stripping out of his suit.
The three of them had been running around in the woods for hours, and though they weren’t drenched in sweat, their woolen long johns and thick woolen socks had a distinctly musky smell to them.
Ryker stripped off the wool underwear, tossing it in his bag and putting on a fresh set of sweat pants and a loose t-shirt. He ran his fingers through his hair, and he was debating whether or not he should put on socks when the sound of the shower turning off had all three of them turning toward the door with laser-like focus.
“Do you need anything in there?” August asked. He walked up to the bathroom door, ready to walk inside and offer up any assistance that might be needed.
“I’m good,” Dylan called back. “I’ll just be a minute.”
Ryker sat down on the bed, August sitting next to him and Steve remaining standing by the wall. A minute passed, the three of them listening to the sounds of Dylan drying off and getting dressed, and then Dylan stepped out of the bathroom in a cloud of steam. His skin was pink and his hair was still dripping, but he looked much better than he had before his shower.
“Feel better?” Ryker asked, standing up and taking a step toward him.
Dylan nodded.
“Would you like some food?” August asked. He rose up, too, coming to stand next to Ryker. “Or something to drink?”
