"I swear, when I saw you collapse, my heart almost jumped out of my chest." Lena claps her hand over her mouth. "Oops, sorry, didn’t mean to say it like that."
Summer’s lips twitch.
Karma chuckles, then coughs.
"Sorry, didn’t mean to make you laugh, either." Lena looks stricken.
Karma rolls her eyes. "I’m not gonna die any time soon."
Michael makes a low noise at the back of his throat. Karma glances at her husband who’s seated in the corner of the room. His gaze is focused on his phone, but his attention is on his wife. And rightly so. Karma looks pale; there are hollows below her cheekbones and purple patches under her eyes. Her eyes, though, gleam with humor. She’s in good spirits, which is not something that can be said about her husband. Michael hasn’t said a word since Lena and I walked in here.
After knocking on the door of Lena’s house, Summer told us they were on their way to the hospital as Karma was awake. We’d followed them in my car. By the time we reached Karma’s room, Summer and Sinclair were already there.
The entire time that Summer and Lena visit with Karma, Michael stays silent. Except for the occasional flicks of his gaze toward his wife to make sure that she is okay, he’s been focused on his phone.
Luca and Adrian are positioned outside the room, with Christian, Axel, and Massimo at strategic points throughout the floor. Their wives have also been in and out, Karma told us. Seems the Sovrano clan has taken up temporary residence in the hospital. They managed to clear out the entire floor and occupy the nearby rooms so they could keep Karma company, and also act as emotional support for Michael. Not surprising, considering how tightly knit the Sovranos are.
Lena tugs on my sleeve. I glance down to find her glancing at Michael, then back at me.
"What?" I frown.
She rises to her feet, then circles her arms around my neck. I automatically wind my arm around her waist to hold her steady. "Why don’t you take Michael out, so he can get a breath of fresh air?"
"Why would I do that?"
She pats my cheek. "Because you’re his friend, and that’s what friends do."
I may be older in years and experience, but I still have a lot to learn from her.
"Right." I glance at Michael. "Take him out."
"Why don’t you go with them?" Summer places her hand on Sinclair’s hip in an affectionate gesture.
"Why would I do that?" Sinclair’s features wear an expression of confusion, which echoes my sentiments.
"Because we girls want time alone to catch up," Summer says patiently.
"Oh, right." Sinclair’s brow clears. He looks toward me as if to say he’d prefer I take the lead in this. I blow out a breath. Considering the two of them were about ready to shoot each other until a few days ago, it’s probably in everyone’s best interest if I do.
I haul my girl up to her tiptoes, then bend my head and kiss her thoroughly. By the time I finish, she’s flushed and her pupils are dilated.
"Hold that thought." I press another kiss to her forehead, then head in Michael’s direction.
60
Lena
"Sooo, you and JJ?" Karma bursts out as soon as the door has shut behind the men.
"OMG, you guys are so cute together," Summer chirps.
My head is still reeling from that kiss. To think, it’s just a meeting of lips, but JJ turns it into an erotic art form. I could probably come from just his kisses. An experiment I can’t wait to try. In fact, I have come from just his kisses—to my lower lips.
"Lena?" Karma’s voice cuts through my thoughts. "Earth to Lena, hello!"
"I’m here." I brush my hair back from my forehead. "Gosh, is the air conditioner working in this room or what?"
Karma and Summer look at each other, then they burst out laughing.