“Drugs,” I whisper back.
Abby glances at us over her shoulder, clearly overhearing us. Kane is too lost in la-la-land to piece together what we said.
“This side of me is good. You can hug this side,” he says, holding up his left arm. He says it so earnestly, I can’t keep the smile from spreading across my face.
“Fine,” Abby grumbles.
Sensing his window of opportunity, Kane tugs her down to the bed beside him.
“Fuck,” she grunts, trying to brace herself from colliding with his broken body. She maneuvers around his IV, so it doesn’t get ripped out of his arm. He pulls her down until her head rests against his shoulder, with little regard for his own well-being at this point. She fights it for a minute, but eventually her whole body relaxes against him.
“Are you in pain?” she asks, tilting her head up to look at him.
“Not anymore.”
“Good. This last round of meds seems to…”
He cuts her off. “Because you’re here.”
I want to give him shit because that was cheesy as fuck, but the way he’s looking at her makes me keep my words in my damn mouth. The look in his eyes seems like she really is the cure to everything plaguing him.
“The meds have made you a real charmer, huh?” Abby says.
He shrugs, and the movement makes him wince.
“Don’t move that arm if you don’t have to, at least for a bit,” she says.
“You’re so pretty,” Kane says dreamily.
I swear, this guy is going to give me whiplash with the way he’s bouncing around from one topic to the next. It’s very un-Kane-like.
“Ever the charmer,” Abby says.
“It’s true,” Kane says. His forehead bunches with concentration as he stares down at her.
“He isn’t wrong,” Wyatt says.
“Agreed,” I add.
She’s mostly facing away from me, but I can still see the pink hue creep over her cheek.
Kane’s eyes widen in panic. He looks from left to right, searching for something he can’t find. “Oliver,” he croaks.
Abby runs a soothing hand over the uninjured part of his face. “He’s safe. I promise. Cole picked him up with Mav. They’re going to go get ice cream and everything.”
Kane lets out a heavy breath. “Thank you.”
“Of course. I’m just glad you’re okay.” Her breath stutters. “You really scared me.”
His hand moves up to cup the back of her head. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I’m okay. I promise.”
She buries her face in his neck. We all stay silent as she pulls herself together.
Her head tilts. “I should get back to work.” She gently pats the uninjured side of Kane’s chest.
Kane’s arm tightens around her. “No, I don’t want you to go.”
“I have to go finish my shift. You aren’t the only one here today,” she says, smiling up at him from where he has her caged against him.
