Page 128 of My Brother’s Best Friends Entanglement

Two surgeons come through the double doors just after two in the morning, both of them looking like they haven't slept in a week.

“Leon Riley's family?”

We're all on our feet before either of them finishes the sentence.

They were able to repair the spleen, save it. The ankle has a metal rod in it, the ribs will just take time. He's out of theatre, still critical but stable, and being moved to ICU for close monitoring over the next few days.

“Can I see him?” I get the words out eventually. “I'm his sister.”

“Once he's settled in the ICU someone will bring you in, for a few minutes only. What he needs most right now is rest.”

“Thank you.” It's all I've got to give them.

I sit back down. And try to keep breathing.

THIRTY-FIVE

Alexia

“Just you, to start,” the nurse who's come to take me back to see Leon says. Her eyes go past me, all three of them already half out of their chairs, faces hopeful. She sighs. “Fine, one more. But only for a few minutes.”

Zachary is first by my side, his hand at my back, steady.

She explains his current condition as we walk. And ends with, “He'll look worse than he is. Everyone does. But the tubes are keeping him alive. Try not to let it get you.”

That's easier said than done.

He's so still. Leon is the most restless sleeper ever, I've never once seen him just lie still doing nothing, not even in his sleep. I'd give anything to see him being annoying right now. Anything but the tube down his throat. Brace around his ribs. An IV line taped into the back of the hand that would relentlessly poke me whenever we were in the back seat of the station wagon, that ruffled my hair so hard on my first day of high school I cried, that held mine outside a funeral home ten years ago on the worst day of my life and didn't let go.

I don't remember walking over to him. I'm just there, and my fingers find the sleeve of his gown and start pulling at it. Little tugs. Over and over.

He doesn't move.

I knew he wouldn't. I'm still disappointed.

“Hey.” My voice comes out so quiet, I have to clear my throat to try again. “Hey. It's me. If you die, I'm going to kill you. And if you live, you're going to make me hear the stupid 'a kangaroo tried to kill me' story again every single day for the rest of our lives, aren't you. It'll be bigger every time, too, I'll bet.” A breath. “I love you. You know that? I don't say it enough. I'm saying it now so it's on record. So when you wake up you can't tell me I never said it. I even have a witness. Zacha⁠—”

That's when my voice goes. Zachary steps up next to me by the bed.

“Hey, man, what's up? Looking... well, you've looked better. But that's not really saying much, hey?” Easy, like it's just any other day. I envy him. But I know it's not how he's really feeling. “Bold move, stealing Rhys's whole broody-and-silent thing. He's not going to love the competition.” Something under the joke cracks and gives way to emotion. He has to swallow before going on. “Nothing's the same without you. Wake up, alright? Or else you know what kinda place Marcus is going to pick if he's in charge of location scouting.”

The nurse comes back and gives us a kind smile. “Let him rest now.”

I don't want to let go of the sleeve. I make myself do it anyway.

I last four minutes when I'm back in the waiting room.

“Lex.” Zachary's already reaching for me. “Sit.”

“I need to know what equipment we'll need, when we bring him home.” Phone out, notes app open, I start reeling off everything I can think of. “Hospital bed, shower chair. Someone said something about a home nursing service, I need that number, I need to know what his private insurance will cover, not that it matters⁠—”

“Alexia,” Rhys says. “We have plenty of time to sort it out.”

“No,” I say, not looking at him. “The sooner I start, the better. Then he can have the best.”

“He will. We'll sort it,” Marcus says. “All of us. You don't have to do it all yourself tonight.”

“I do, though.” Out before I can stop it. “I have to.”