“Ok. He might need to go to the hosp?—”
“Nope, not going to hospital,” I said, keeping my eyes closed. “I’m not going to pay an arm and a leg just for them to tell me what I’m sure you and Atlas can tell me are bruised ribs or possibly a broken rib.”
“It could be serious,” Jude argued.
“Nothing some food, a pain pill and some ice can’t fix,” I said.
“Forest, this could?—”
“We could even try Windex, like that one Greek movie,” I grinned. “He said that it works on everything. Or my abuela used to put Vicks on everything.”
Theo chuckled. I opened my eyes to see Jude glaring at his brother. My chest did a weird thing, and I liked that Jude was like this with me.
Yes, take care of me, baby.
“He’ll be fine, Jude,” Theo said, clapping Jude’s shoulder. “You know how it is on the farm, we all get hurt sometimes.”
Theo walked away as Jude glared at his brother mumbling something under his breath. He was cute when he was mad.
“I’m ok, Jude, I promise,” I said, wanting to assure him. “Not the first time I've been hurt on a ranch, it won't be the last.”
“I know,” he said, pursing his lips.
“Sorry, I was talking to Webber since he was my last client,” Atlas said, as he came into the house.
I swear the entire atmosphere changed in an instant and Atlas stopped in the living room suddenly.
“Is he ok?” Jude asked, like he was unaware of the tension in the room. “Is everyone getting hurt today?”
“Oh yeah, one of his incisions was giving him some problems but nothing too bad,” Atlas said, getting a little flustered.
“Too bad? What does that mean?” He scowled.
“Maybe you should ask him,” Theo said. “Or maybe you should go visit him.”
Jude glared at him.
“He’s fine, just some irritation,” Atlas said, coming over to me.
Jude and Theo exchanged some heated words before Jude turned his back to him, crossing his arms and looking at me. Damn, this man was stubborn. They both were. If they actually talked to each other, they would realize they were both overreacting, and they could just move on. Maybe it was time to intervene and now that I was hurt, I had an excuse to get both of them to help me out. By the time Atlas told me I was just banged up, I had a plan forming that just might work.
11
sam
The phone rang with my agent's number and I froze. It had been the call I had been waiting for and avoiding for the last week. I think I knew what he was going to tell me, but I had dodged his last two calls, not ready for the news. It was our last-ditch effort for a contract.
I hit answer before I could chicken out.
“Just tell me, don’t sugar coat it,” I said.
“I’m sorry, Webber. No one is looking to?—”
“Ok.” I interrupted him. “Looks like I’m retiring early.”
“I’m sorry, kid,” he sighed. “After the Yetis decided not to re-sign you, we knew it was a long shot. The second surgery was the kicker. If we didn’t have that setback, I think the Yetis would have re-signed you.”
“I know,” I said. “Thank you for trying till the bitter end.”
