Sawyer grimaced. “Yeah, good point. It’s just that . . . having our family there. It sounded nice.”
He shifted a little uncomfortably as he felt the other two staring at him. He should’ve just kept his mouth shut, because he sounded like a damn moron.
“I know what you mean,” Hutch said. “But Birdie is close, and now that we’re moving back, we’ll be able to check in on her more often.”
“The more important issue is whether we’re going to be able to convince Reggie to stay,” Cam said.
Sawyer’s eyes narrowed, and he jerked his head in Cam’s direction. It was the second time in as many days that he’d heard Cam express doubts.Fuck it all. If Cam was unsure, what the fuck was Sawyer supposed to think?
“You don’t sound so certain, Cam,” Hutch said in a low voice.
Sawyer glanced back at Hutch to see the same confusion registered in Hutch’s expression. He exchanged a quick glance with Hutch and offered a shrug in return.
Cam ran a hand through his hair and gave an agitated-sounding sigh.
“I don’t know,” he muttered. “I’m worried. That’s all. This is too important. If we don’t handle it just right, we could fuck things up permanently.”
“Are you trying to make a point here, Cam?” Sawyer demanded. “If you have something to say, just say it.”
Cam frowned and looked his way again. “No man, I wasn’t making any point other than exactly what I said.”
“Well, your inference was that one of us is screwing things up, and if that’s the case, you need to just get it out now.”
“Hold up,” Hutch said. “You need to back off, Sawyer. Your in-the-face approach ain’t going to cut it with us or with Reggie.”
Sawyer turned in his seat and pinned Hutch with his stare. “What are you saying, man? You got a problem with me?”
“I’ve got a problem with you getting in Reggie’s face and pushing too hard,” Hutch said unflinchingly.
Sawyer felt a prickle of guilt creep up his neck. But he also resented the implication that he was to blame for Reggie’s resistance. He wasn’t good at the lovey dovey shit. He wasn’t gentle like Cam or laid back like Hutch. He couldn’t seem to curb the edge of desperation when it came to Reggie, and as a result he came across too forceful. Yeah, he knew that, but he didn’t need Cam or Hutch shoving it into his face.
“I’m not you, and I’m not Cam,” he said as calmly as he was able. “Besides, Reggie’s not a wuss. She can take it.”
Regina lay in bed staring up at the ceiling. She heard footsteps on the stairs and waited as they sounded down the hall and nearer to her bedroom.
She looked over when the door eased open. Birdie stuck her head in and then smiled when she saw that Regina was awake.
“Hello, dear,” she said as she walked toward the bed. “I was just coming up to check on you. How are you feeling?”
Regina stretched slightly, testing the soreness of her ribs, and was pleased to find there wasn’t as much pain as the previous day. She sat up and returned Birdie’s smile.
“I’m feeling better actually.”
She raised her hand to touch her bruised throat and probed tentatively. Her voice didn’t sound quite as raspy.
“Almost human again,” she added.
Birdie sat on the edge of the bed and laid her hand over Regina’s. “The boys left medication for you to take. Do you want it?”
Regina lifted an eyebrow. “You’re giving me a choice? They all but shoved the pills down my throat yesterday.”
Birdie smiled, and the soft wrinkles around her eyes gathered. “They mean well. They love you,” she said simply. “Sometimes men go a little overboard when expressing their feelings. Are you in any pain?”
Regina shook her head and avoided Birdie’s stare. She wasn’t in any physical pain, but the memory of last night’s confrontation was sharp. And now Birdie speaking of love. This conversation could only veer into very uncomfortable territory.
Birdie’s hand tightened around Regina’s fingers. “I see the worry, the fear in your eyes, Regina. I hope you aren’t afraid of me.”
Regina’s shoulders slumped. She chanced a glimpse into the older woman’s eyes but only found kindness in them.
