Well…Was he really disappointed because this gorgeous nurse was going to leave him until after the next sunrise? Pain radiated up his leg and Crazy Ella’s voice whispered through him.
“The one whose future is meant to be tied to yours.”
Shit. That sounded way heavier than he’d initially processed.
And he was disappointed. That was not a good sign.
He drew a frustratingly shaky breath and looked into Lynnette’s eyes again. “I’m as good as I’m gonna get for now. I’ll hold out ‘til morning for you, don’t worry.”
That time she did laugh, just briefly, and she patted his arm. “Well, that’s good. You rest, and don’t be too proud to push thatbutton if you need something between check-ins. I’ll see you tomorrow, Lance.”
She whisked out the door as easily as she’d entered and something in his chest constricted.
Fuck. Did he believe that crazy blonde who’d literally evaporated into thin air?Never exactly seen anyone do that before.So maybe he did. And she’d said something about a choice.
His eyelids grew heavy as his mind spun.
Vengeance on the goddamn shifter who’d shot up that bakery and nearly ripped off his leg? Or … a fucking … fairytale?
Chapter three
Morning Check-In
Lance was awake whenJon rolled in a little after sunrise. Seemed the hospital wasn’t restricting him to visiting hours. That probably worked out better. The current nurse on duty was driving Lance crazy in a bad way and he needed a distraction.
He also needed to go for a run or at least fucking stretch his legs, but that was a whole other issue.
“Still lame, I see,” Jon greeted as he passed over a cup of what had better be coffee.
Lance immediately popped the lid off to look inside, revealing the aromatic black liquid that kept his soul fed, and sucked in a deep breath. “I’m only forgiving you for that comment because you brought me the good shit.”
Jon dropped into the guest chair with his own cup. “Give me some credit. I’m not always an asshole.”
They shared a chuckle and languished in the moment with their drinks. Or that was Lance’s take, anyway. On his thirdswallow he considered there might be something—someone—else on Jon’s mind.
That made for the perfect opening.
“Tell me you spent the night having phone sex with your high school sweetheart,” Lance said, turning his most intentionally hopeful look Jon’s way.
Jon choked on his coffee. Which was a damn achievement in and of itself. The glare that followed was much more predictable. “I preferred you high on pain meds.”
Lance grinned and took a slower sip of his coffee. “Sorry, bud. Terribly sober this morning and planning to stay that way.”
Jon shifted his gaze to Lance’s propped-up leg. “Think you’ll be out today?”
“Nope.” The answer was off Lance’s tongue before he could consider what the response really meant. For all intents and purposes, he should be. He should be good enough to at least be on his own by noon.
“No?”
Lynnette’s face flashed through Lance’s mind and his chest did that tightening thing again.
Am I really banking on a fucking fairytale?
He was a human lightning rod who’d had his leg shredded by a damn feline shifter. His best friend was a modern-day Poseidon who’d once inadvertently rescued an immortal sorceress. Fuck, maybe he ought to believe in fairytales.
Lance chugged the rest of his coffee. “No,” he repeated, voice a bit rough from the burn of the liquid. “Now don’t go changin’ the subject, Romeo.” He crushed the recyclable cup in his hand and pointed out to Jon accusatorily. “You and your sweet Jenna. What’s the deal?”
Jon narrowed his eyes. “There’s no deal, you nosy fuck. We have history, that’s all.”
