I caught him around the waist, both hands nearly meeting at the small of his back.
“And I don’t need an IV.”
My lips twitched, wanting to smile. “I think you do.”
“I need to leave.”
He’d said that before. On the app. That he was desperate to get out of there. “Why?”
His eyes shot to mine and then dropped away. “What?”
“Why do you need to leave?”
He shrugged.
Reaching between us, I grasped his chin and forced it up. His green and blue eyes were wary. “Is someone waiting for you?”
The wariness was replaced with confusion as his stare darted between mine like he was confused. “What?”
“Are you in a hurry to go because you’re meeting someone?” I spoke through gritted teeth.
“Who would I meet?” he wondered.
Fury at the idea of someone waiting for him swept through me. And then the infernal fury burning me up was taken over by cold resolve. The exact same frostiness I used when snuffing out a life.I’ll kill them.
“I can’t afford the bill!” he burst out, ripping away my murderous tendencies with his voice.
I blinked and looked down, noting his trembling fingers clutching my biceps. Gazing back up, I also noted the alarm in his rounded eyes and the slight part of his lips.
“What’s the matter?” I was gruff.
“Me?You’re the one that looked like you were about to be the next star of aDatelineepisode.”
I made a sour face. “Datelineis for criminals who get caught.”
“Who are you?” he whispered.
I couldn’t help but notice the way he still clung to my arms. “Your fake boyfriend until you get discharged.”
What the hell are you doing, Kieran? This is absurd.
“Well, let’s go see if they’ll discharge me now,” he said, trying to pull away.
I yanked him back. “I didn’t say you could go.”
“I told you I can’t afford any more treatments.”
He thought I meant leave the hospital instead of my arms.
“You’re getting the IV,” I told him, tightening my grip around his waist. He was hurt and dehydrated.So fucking small.No wonder the staff hadn’t wanted him to leave.
He began shaking his head. “I can’t?—”
“I’ll pay the bill.”
His mouth dropped open, shock illuminating his gemstone eyes. “W-why would you do that?”
“Consider it an apology.”
