Chapter Six
Larkin lay on the bed and looked out the big window at the birds that flew by. The doctors said that she was good to go, so now she was waiting for Brylee to get there to give her some clothes.
Her heart jerked every time the door opened, expecting him to walk in. She smiled when Brylee came through, but she lost it when Gage followed.
She glanced at Brylee and saw her try to smile.
“Did you bring the clothes, Brylee?” Larkin asked.
“Yes.”
“Okay, I’m going into the bathroom and getting dressed.”
Gage snorted. “Honey, I’ve seen your whole body, and I’ve seen you fucked many times. Why so shy now?”
Larkin maneuvered herself to the side of the bed, gritting her teeth against the pain from her incision. Fortunately, Gage was there to help her stand. “Answer me.”
“Because I want to forget that part of my life forever.”
Gage smoothed her hair. “Honey, you know that won’t happen. You and Darian are a part of each other. You can’t exist and be happy without the other.”
She flinched when she heard the name and tried to pull away from Gage.
“I think it’s a mistake. I don’t think I should go home with you. You’re on his side, Gage, and you’ll badger me about him. I’m too weak and tired right now.” She turned to Brylee. “Can you help me pay for a hotel? You know I’ll pay you back when I get a job.”
“Yes, of course.”
“No hotel,” Gage said. “You’ll come home with us, and I promise not to bug you about him.”
Larkin looked up at him. God, it hurt so much. Maybe she needed to go to a hotel because just seeing him reminded her of another guy.
“I think I’d rather not be around you. I want to forget.”
Gage grasped her shoulders. “Honey. Would you please come home with us? If you want to go to a hotel later, I’ll pay for it for you. You have to consider the hospital doesn’t want you alone for at least a week.”
She nodded her head and looked away. The nurse had told her that.
“I asked the nurse about the bill, and she said to ask you,” Larkin said.
“You know what happened. He took care of it.”
She sighed. “Can you get a copy? I want to pay him back when I get a job.”
Gage pinched the bridge of his nose. “I’ll try.”
“Okay. Thank you.”
Brylee came around the bed and helped her into the bathroom. It wasn’t closed off, so he could still see her, but he walked over to the window with his back to them to give them some privacy.
Brylee had brought her easy clothes to put on, and it didn’t take long, which was fortunate because she started to get dizzy.
Brylee saw and helped her over and into the bed. Larkin leaned against the pillow and closed her eyes.
“Are you okay?” Brylee asked. “You’re really pale.”
Gage turned around and scowled.
“I’m fine. Really. Can we go?”
Gage left and came back with a wheelchair, then helped her into it.
At the door, Larkin put her hand on the doorjamb to keep the chair from going through. “Wait. Can you promise me that he isn’t waiting for me?”
“Yes,” Gage said. “He doesn’t want to make things worse.”