For a moment after he left, no one spoke.
Then Charley let out a shaky breath. “He’s alive.”
Pierce looked over at her. Some of the strain had eased from her face.
Reed stood up and looked at the group. “I forgot to mention that when I spoke with the police, they agreed to keep an officerposted at Calvin’s door. Also, if you don’t mind, would you please notify me of any updates to his condition?”
Ray nodded. “We’ll make sure that happens.”
Reed looked at Charley then. “Thank you.”
Her brows drew together. “For what?”
“For staying with him.” His gaze dipped briefly to her bandaged arm. “He’s alive in part because you didn’t run. You, Ms. Taylor, are the true hero here. And for what it’s worth, I’m sorry that you got dragged into this.”
With those parting words, he said goodnight and walked out the door.
The room stayed quiet for a few seconds after the doors closed behind him.
Finally, Seth stepped forward. “So what now?”
Everyone started talking, and Pierce let the conversation move around him as he focused on Charley, who had stepped away from the group and was now standing near the window, looking outside.
He could tell that her energy was fading fast. He could see it now in the way she leaned lightly against the glass, like it was helping hold her up.
He walked over to her. “You okay?”
Charley looked up at him, and even though she looked dead on her feet, she still managed a small smile. “Yeah. I mean, as okay as I can be, I guess. Knowing Calvin’s alive helps.”
Pierce’s chest tightened a little at that. Of course, that was where her head went first. Not the stitches in her arm. Not the fact that she had been shot at. But Calvin. “Do you ever notice how you’re always worried about everybody else before you think about yourself?”
Her smile deepened just a touch. “I could probably say the same thing about you. I mean, you did rescue me on the water. And you are here now with me.”
He huffed out a quiet laugh and stepped closer, lowering his voice. “Because I want to be here for you.” His hand settled on her waist. “And I want to take care of you, sweetheart. I also think it’d be best if you didn’t stay at your place,” he said. “Not until this mess blows over. I’d feel a hell of a lot better if you stayed with me.”
She studied him for a second, and for once, there was no stubborn argument waiting in her eyes. Just tiredness. Maybe a little relief, too.
“Okay,” she said softly. “I’ll stay with you.”
The answer hit him with a rush of relief so strong it almost made him lightheaded. Pierce let out a breath and pulled her gently into his arms, careful of her injured arm as he wrapped her up against him. She came willingly, her good arm sliding around his waist as she rested her cheek against his chest.
For a moment, neither of them said anything.
They just stood there in the middle of the waiting room, holding on to each other while the low murmur of everyone else faded into the background. Pierce dipped his head, pressing his lips to her hair, and felt some of the tightness in his chest finally begin to ease.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
He frowned slightly and eased back just enough to look down at her. “For what?”
“For being here,” she said, her voice quiet but steady. “For all of it.”
Pierce brushed his thumb over her cheek, his gaze locked on hers. “There’s nowhere else I’d be. And the second that we get home, you’re taking your meds, getting a hot shower, eating something, and going to bed.”
She scrunched her nose up at him in an adorable way. “You make me sound eighty.”
“You got shot.”
“Grazed.”
