My stomach rolls at the thought, but she’s right, I’ve seen it myself. God, how could a parent put their career over the life of their own child?
Tuck shrugs. “Well, if you need any help, let me know.”
“Thanks,” I murmur. Tuck’s helped me my entire life. He secured the EpiPen I doctored for Congressman McArthur. I told him step-by-step what my plan was, and he helped me perfect it, ensuring the peanut oil was diluted enough to extract through a needle.
“My offer was for Daphne,” Tuck says with a smirk. “You can get fucked.”
“Nice language for a pediatrician,” I murmur as I glance around the busy cafeteria of the children’s hospital.
“Pediatric emergency physician,” he corrects me.
“Either way, your patients’ ages match your IQ.”
Daphne giggles, drawing my attention back to her. I take her hand in mine and give it a reassuring squeeze. It’s still clammy, but Tuck said she’d be in shock for an hour or so. It takes a while for the adrenal glands to settle after a major, prolonged event.
When she went to use the bathroom, Tuck warned methat she’d probably have nightmares. That cemented it all for me. Whoever that weird-hoodie-wearing asshole is, he’s as good as dead.
“You two are so different,” Daphne points out.
“Everyone says that,” Tuck says with a small smile. “Apparently, I stole his brain cells in the womb.”
“And I got the good looks.”
“We’re identical, you dumbass.”
Nearly identical. While my eyes are two different colors, Tucker’s baby blues match Tessa’s and Mom’s. And Tuck’s got a dimple in his cheek that everyone wanted to pinch growing up.
“You shouldn’t swear around a lady.” I smack my brother upside the head.
“Hey, respect your elders.”
“By four fucking minutes.”
“You shouldn’t swear around a lady,” Tuck mocks.
Bastard.
“Code blue, room five. Code blue, room five.” A woman’s voice comes over the loudspeaker.
Without a word, Tuck launches himself out of his chair and runs, his white coat billowing out behind him like a cape. I give him shit, but my brother’s a superhero in my eyes.
“What was that?” Daphne asks.
“Some kind of emergency. We won’t see him again. He’s coming to dinner on Sunday with Tessa, though.”
“Why were you visiting him at the hospital?” Daphne asks.
My food circles in my gut. “I wanted to be nearby. You know, in case you needed me after your session.”
Daphne rewards me with a smile, and it seems my stalking tendencies sometimes pay off. She rests her handon top of mine and gives it a squeeze. “Thank you.” Her blue eyes sparkle up at me.
Tuck might have the brains, but I’m the lucky twin.
“I’ll be there on Saturday,”Daphne says with a starchy politeness in her voice. “Email me the speech, and I’ll practice.” Daphne ends the call and tosses herself onto the couch in a frustrated ,“Hmph.”
“Tough day at the office, Princess?” I step behind the couch and massage my fingers into the curve below her neck where her shoulder dips. It’s tempting to move them lower, down onto her breasts, and play with them until she’s fully relaxed. But no, I’m a good boy. I’ll behave.
Mainly because Tessa and Tuck will be here any minute. I’d appreciate a quickie, but Tessa has an annoying habit of forgetting to knock.
