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Maybe because most of the other chairs in the room are occupied. Or maybe because over the last few weeks it’s been obvious that Sutton and I are friends, with the dance studio coming together. Or maybe Beckett being friendly with my sister has also made him more open to the idea of me being friends with his sister.

My palm itches to reach out for Sutton’s hand, though. Sitting next to her and not being able to touch her doesn’t feel right.

With everyone here, the waiting room is anything but quiet or boring. Conversations go on around all of us, and there’s even laughter.

The group begins analyzing the line dance where Brewser tangled his feet.

“But you just have to step out left nice and wide.” Leo pushes two chairs back and stands in front of Harley and Patty. “If you step wide and clear your toe, it’s no problem.”

He demonstrates.

“I don’t think he caught his toe.” Wilson stands up and pushes two more chairs back. “I think he stepped on my foot.” He does a grapevine step to the right. “When we got right here.” He pauses. “I felt something.”

“We just need more space between people then?” Patty stands and pushes two more chairs out of the way.

I look at Sutton. “Um…”

“They’re having dance rehearsal here?” Astrid asks.

“This is not a good idea, right?” Nora asks.

“Uh, hey, guys—dammit!” Alex suddenly lunges and grabs Patty as she steps and pivots at the same time, and catches her toe on one of the chairs.

“Oops!” she laughs.

“At least we’re already in the hospital,” Harley jokes.

“Maybe we should move all our practices to the ER waiting room,” Muriel says.

Leo starts to push the chair further out of the way, but I stand up. Jesus. “Okay, enough.”

Everyone turns to look at me. I’m the usually quiet, in-the-background hockey player. I just take care of things without fanfare. I don’t give opinions, initiate projects, or assert myself.

Until Sutton.

And now…these people.

I care now. I tried not to. I tried to stay detached. I tried to just be here and not be protective or get involved. I did that all my sister’s life, and it was not always welcome or even necessary. I was trying to be different here in Rebel.

But…I fell in love. With all of them.

So now I’m going to take care of them. Dammit.

“Everyone, sit down,” I say firmly. “This is a hospital waiting room. Not a dance hall.” I move the chairs back into place, then point at each of them. “If you can’t behave, I’m going to ask you to leave. One of you hurt or sick at a time. That’s the new rule. And Brewser beat you to it tonight.”

“But we—” Patty starts.

“No,” I say.

“We could just—” Wilson says.

“No,” I say again, steady, calm, but firm.

“Couldn’t we—” Wilson tries again.

“Wilson,” I say, with warning in my tone. “Nora was about to tell us all about the new mobile reading nook the library and Parks and Rec are putting together.” I turn to the Parks and Rec director. “Right, Nora?”

Nora’s eyes go wide.