“What? And why has no one treated you yet?” Joshua looks at me with disbelief. “Wait, I am going to find a doctor,” he announces, but I halt him.
“No, it’s fine,” I argue.
“It’s not fucking fine, you’re hurt, you—” he starts, but I just take my arm by my elbow and push it up at an angle.
Now I am no longer panicking, the move works on the first try, but the pain makes me whimper slightly.
“Fucking badass,” Clay mumbles.
“How did you…” Joshua looks at me with wide eyes.
I shrug and explain, “Not the first time,” making him grimace.
“Here,” Clay says softly, taking off his parka and putting it around my shoulders. It’s still warm from his body, and I finally realize how cold I am without shoes and wearing only the dress.
“Thank you,” I whisper.
“Come on, let’s get to Xander. He is out of his mind with worry. He woke up, and you were gone, and nobody could tell him where you were.”
“He’s awake?” I ask, tears starting to form in my eyes.
“Yes, he is fine. It is just a little concussion,” Joshua reassures me, putting a hand on the small of my back to lead me before he stops abruptly. “Where are your shoes?”
“Ditched them.” I shrug.
Clay gets in front of me and bends down to grab me under my thighs.
“What are you doing? No!” I protest when I realize he wants to carry me bridal style.
“I won’t let you walk barefoot in a hospital, kitten. Come on, Xander is waiting.” he urges.
I hate it, but I am just too tired to argue, and I need to see Xander, so I put my arms around Clay’s neck as he bends down again. He puts one arm under my thighs and the other around my back, then stands, making me cling to him even more.
He looks at me and says softly, “Let’s go get our man.”
We enter a hospital room,and Clay gently sets me down. With a deep breath, I glance at the bed on the right, where Xander sits upright.
He is wearing a hospital gown, his temple is patched up, and he gives me a grumpy look.
Fuck, is he mad at me?
“You!” he growls out. “Come here.”
I freeze in place, unsure of what to do, when Clay wraps his arms around my waist and carries me the few steps to the side of the bed.
“Don’t make him ask twice,” he whispers in my ear, and I can hear the smirk in his voice.
I’m trembling, but Xander reaches out and grabs my wrist, pulling me toward him. As soon as I am close enough, he places his hands on my hips and lifts me onto the bed and in his lap, hugging me tightly from behind.
Relief washes over me as he holds me close, and I have to bite my lips to keep them from trembling, tears brimming in my eyes, making the room blurry. I close my eyes for a brief moment, savoring the feeling of his breath against my neck.
We made it.
He’s okay.
“Babe, they told you not to overdo it,” Clay reminds him from beside us, but Xander is just breathing in my hair, holding me close.
“I am so sorry,” he whispers, and when I turn my head to look up at him, there are tears in his eyes. “I lost control. I shouldn’t have—” I lean in to silence him with a kiss, and he grabs the back of my head to deepen it.
