“That doesn’t make it okay,” I tell him, reaching for his face. “I just…you scared me, Shepherd.”
His eyes flick over my gaze, taking in everything I’m trying—and failing—to hide. Then the corner of his mouth lifts slightlyand he brings a hand to my waist. “I’m sorry. I didn’t want to scare you. Are you okay?”
I blink. “Me? I’m not the one who just got hit by a truck.”
“You still watched it.” That lands a little harder than it should.
“I’m fine,” I say.
He tilts his head slightly, not convinced.
He’s never convinced.
He’s always worried about me., but he’s the one who took the hit today.
“Seb wants me checked out,” he says, nodding toward the exam room where his brother is waiting in the doorway, arms crossed. “I promised.”
“Good,” I fire back. “You should be checked out.”
He grins. “Yes, ma’am.”
I narrow my eyes. “Don’t.”
“Don’t what?”
“Be charming about this.”
He chuckles and I notice the slight wince. “I’m not being charming.”
“You are.”
“It’s natural. I can’t help it.”
I stare at him and he smiles and somehow that makes it even worse. “Does it hurt?” I ask, quieter now.
His expression shifts. “A little,” he admits.
My chest tightens again and dammit, I hate that. I hate that I feel something. I hate that I care…or maybe…no, that’s not right. I want to care, but caring means I could lose something important to me. Caring means I could break all over again and I’m not sure I could endure the loss of someone like Shepherd Haynes. He’s been my safe space every time I’ve needed one. He’s let me call the shots when he’s the one who is meant to lead. The feelings I have for him are overwhelming and I’m scared as fuck to admit them out loud.
“Hey,” he whispers, his finger lifting my chin so he can lock his eyes with mine. “I’m fine,” he adds reassuringly, like he knows exactly where my head just went.
“Okay,” I say, exhaling a breath. But I don’t move. I don’t leave, and I don’t look away. And neither does he.
“Hey,” Killian cuts in from behind me. “You gonna let the man get checked out or are you planning to interrogate him first?”
I don’t even turn. “You can go, Killian.”
Bishop laughs. “Yeah, we’ll just leave you two here in a medical hallway. Totally normal.”
“Very normal,” Killian adds.
Shepherd shakes his head. “You guys can go. Seb’s got me and she’s clearly not letting me go without being checked.”
Killian laughs. “You got that right.” He leans in. “For what it’s worth, she was crying huge tears when you fell, bro.”
My jaw drops. “I did no such thing.”
“Nah,” Bishop chuckles. “But the cup you were holding died a thousand deaths in your grasp.”
