Sebastian loiters with a content smile playing at his lips. He looks so much better than he did when he busted intomy bedroom full of worry. “Be back in the morning with your bagels?”
“Only if they have the strawberry filled ones,” replies Colson. “The regular cream cheese makes me want to gag.”
I awkwardly keep quiet and glance at Colson’s tray. There’s still food on his plate; mashed potatoes, a lump of chicken, and mushy carrots. A cup of vanilla pudding sits off to the side, a spoon next to it.
Sebastian says his goodbyes. “See you later, Vi. Don’t let this one out of your sight.”
Colson rests his head on his propped pillow, not bothering to shove his table off to the side. It’s one that hovers over the bed, and it makes it easy for him to reach for his can of ginger ale. He grabs it and sips through a straw.
Sebastian exits the room, and then it’s just us. Two people who used to be more than awkward glances and uncomfortable words. And then he points out how I haven’t been around. “Wasn’t sure if I’d be lucky enough to see you again.”
I drop to the chair next to his bed, the feet of it screeching across the floor when I tug it closer to the bed. “Surprise,” I give him a cumbersome smile. “I’m here.”
His gaze dances across my face. “You really are.”
My stomach is laden with butterflies as he takes me in, the heat of his stare making me spark with anticipation. He used to look at me like that all the time. With this underlying affection begging to peek its way out and be seen.
I point to his food. “Not hungry?”
He shrugs his non-injured shoulder and blinks. “My stomach is still woozy from the pain meds. Doc says it’s normal, but I have a hard time eating a lot in one sitting. That, and, the food around these parts isn’t exactly Michelin star quality.”
I grimace. “That bad?”
“Let’s just say I’d rather drink that peanut butter and jelly smoothie you love so much.”
My stomach swoops from the memory of sitting across from him and sharing drinks at Sweet Smoothies. “Careful what you wish for,” I tell him with light humor. “Or you might find one materializing in front of you.Poof. Out of thin air.”
“If you’re the reason for it magically appearing, then by all means, I’ll drink down every last drop.”
I grin. “Sure you would.”
“I’d endure a lot more than a smoothie to keep you around, Vi,” he murmurs.
I drop my gaze, fumbling the sleeves of my sweatshirt as a warmth breaks out over my skin.
“I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable,” Colson mumbles. “I’m just glad you’re here.”
“No, it’s, uh…” I look up at him, pushing away the need to crawl onto his bed next to him. “It’s okay.” I change the subject, remembering why I’m here.Because Finn said he had a panic attack.Or something a hell of a lot like one.
“How are you feeling?” I ask. “You look tired but like you’re getting stronger every minute.”
“Well, I’m basically imprisoned in this goddamn bed. I piss through a tiny tube, and my entire left side feels like it fought a war my right side knew nothing about.”
“And you had to be sedated earlier,” I add for him, watching his face for a reaction. “Might not want to leave that one out.”
His gaze cuts to me as he thinks about how I’d know that. “I told you to stay away from Finn, Violet. He’s bad news. When are you going to believe that?”
“I was walking home from class, and he came up to me,” I explain. “I didn’t seek him out.”
“You should’ve told him to get lost.”
“He’s worried about you.”
“He’s worried about his own internal demons. He thinks suddenly being in my life is going to fix his past and make us the brothers he thinks we are. Besides,” he adds with a brief pause. “I wasn’t sedated. They just gave me anxiety meds to relax.”
“Youarebrothers, Colson. Maybe it’s in an unconventional way that inconveniences you, but you are.”
“Drop it, Vi,” he says coldly. “He’s the last person I want to talk about, especially with you.”
