They didn’t speak again as they walked to Cal’s truck. Cal waited in the patient pickup area. Bronwyn had already climbed into the back. His King Cab had plenty of room for all of them, but the back seat was a little tight.
Meredith squeezed his good arm. “You’ll figure it out. I have no doubt. For now, I’ll climb in the back with Bronwyn.”
He should let her. It would be more comfortable to ride in the front. But ... “That’s okay. I’d rather have the back.”
She didn’t stop walking or even look at him, but he sensed her surprise and something else. Approval?
He opened the door and then climbed into the back. Cal quirked an eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Meredith made sure he was settled, then climbed into the front seat beside Cal. “We’re ready to roll.”
Bless her for keeping things as normal as possible.
He shifted in his seat, and despite his best efforts, a grunt of pain escaped through his teeth.
Bronwyn’s hand shot toward him, then froze in midair. She pulled it back, but he caught it. He leaned back in the seat, closed his eyes, and laced his fingers through hers. “Thanks. That helps.”
Again, she didn’t pull away.
He’d count it as a win.
Bronwyn could barely keep her eyes open. She didn’t think she’d been this tired in a decade. All things considered, they’d gotten in and out of the hospital in record time. But it would be 3:00 a.m. before she could crawl into bed, and she wasn’t sure she’d be functional tomorrow. Today. Whenever.
She shifted in her seat. How was it possible to be this exhausted and this edgy at the same time? Mo wouldn’t let go of her hand, and she wasn’t about to tell him to.
He wasn’t drugged. He wasn’t concussed. But was he truly lucid? What would happen tomorrow? Or the next day?
His thumb made slow sweeping motions across her hand. Thenhe leaned toward her and whispered, “I’m going to beat you at Chinese checkers.”
It was the last thing she’d expected him to say. And somehow, it was perfect. “In your dreams.”
They continued to sit in silence, lulled by the sway of the truck as it wound its way up the mountain.
A random thought popped into her brain. “I hope Lionel put the ice cream back in the freezer.”
Mo’s body shook with silent laughter.
“I’m serious,” she said.
“I know you are. That’s what makes it so funny.” He yawned. “Is Katrina okay?”
“She is. She made it home. With her ice cream, I might add.”
“How do you know that?” Meredith asked, turning toward the back seat.
“Because she texted that it was the best thing she’d ever eaten and that it was exactly what she’d needed to help her decompress. Gray let her go after he questioned her, but he said she may need to come in tomorrow. Or today? Or is it tomorrow?” It was her turn to yawn. “I guess Gray needs to talk to us too.”
“No one is doing any talking until you sleep.” Cal was in Papa Bear mode. “Dad got all the cars back to our place. I’m going to drive you straight home. Mo, you can sleep in your own bed. Bronwyn, you can either stay with Meredith or you can stay in our guest room, or you can have the tiny house.”
Cal’s tiny house was empty now that Cassie was married and she and Donovan had moved into their own place, but Cal kept it guest ready.
“I think someone should stay with Mo,” Bronwyn said.
At her words, Mo, eyebrows raised, turned his body toward Bronwyn. “The doctor cleared me.”
“The doctor wasn’t there when you were shot. He’s allowed tobe objective.” She didn’t say that her objectivity had disappeared and she couldn’t find it. That would be too revealing. Of what, she wasn’t sure. But she wasn’t mentally competent at the moment.
“I have to be in the office at seven.” Meredith yawned.
Bronwyn yawned in response.
