“I fucked up. I wish I could take it back. I wish I’d told you.”
“I don’t want to talk about Alex.”
“He’s here, you know?”
“I don’t want to see him.”
“I can’t believe some chick shot you.”
“Yeah. Me either.”
“You look a little pale. Want me to get the nurse?”
“No.”
“I really am sorry about Alex and for not telling you about Kelsey.”
“We can talk when it’s all not so fresh.”
“Okay.”
“Get out of my way, man. Unless you want arrested,” Alex’s voice booms from the hall.
“I should go,” Brookie says, getting to her feet. “Call me. Please. I don’t want us to throw away years of friendship over a guy.”
“Soon.” I offer her a weak smile.
Alex and she share a weird look as they cross paths.
“Hey.” He turns his attention to me as Shaw comes into the room behind him looking every bit bad ass. “You’re going to be okay. I’ve spoken with the doctor and he’s going to release you into my care. Mom is making her soup you like.”
“Stop.”
“I’ve been worried sick about you, but don’t worry, we can put all of this behind us and focus on our future.”
“What future? I don’t want to be with you. Not now. Not five days from now, or a month, or a year. We are never getting back together.”
“You don’t mean that, Ruby. This guy is bad news. Don’t you know who he is?”
“I know he’s the kind of man who won’t cheat on me with my best friend.”
His face falls. “She told you?” he balls his fists, scowling.
“Does it matter? The important thing is you didn’t tell me. I want you to leave.”
“You heard her, man. Get lost,” Shaw practically growls at him.
“Don’t come crying to me when he pimps you out,” Alex warns, bumping shoulders with Shaw as he exits my room.
“Please tell me you have good news,” I tell him.
He smiles at me. “Want to go with me to pick Theo up?”
“I thought you’d never ask.”
“So that’s it. You’re in the clear?”
“Yeah. It wasn’t hard to convince them that I pulled the trigger in self-defense.” He winks and plates my pasta.
