“We can go?” Nate suggested.
I didn’t know who had been more surprised when Chloe had turned up with Miller in tow. But the two of them had barely interacted since they’d been here. Whatever. I had my own shit to worry about.
“No, it’s okay. Mr. Rowe requested that we overlook your number of visitors given the circumstances.”
Harleigh’s brow went up at the mention of her father, but she let it go.
“So when do you think our boy can get out of here?” Kye asked.
“That’s up to the doctor. But maybe tomorrow morning.”
Harleigh gave me another lingering look, and I knew exactly what she was thinking. Where would I go? Because I sure as fuck wasn’t going back to that hellhole.
“Come here,” I mouthed, and she left Chloe and Celeste to join me on the bed. “Don’t look so worried, B.” Smoothing my fingers over the crinkles in her forehead, I kissed her softly.
Someone cleared their throat and I flipped off the room.
“Dude, lady present,” Kye chided.
“Relax, Nurse Beth knows the deal,” I said, winking at her. The woman blushed, murmuring something about teenage boys and left us to it.
“I’m surprised your newest groupie isn’t here.” Zane snorted.
“Max is cool,” I said, and Harleigh and Celeste both pinned me with a surprised look. “What? The kid’s all right.”
“Until Daddy Rowe finds out about the fact you’re training him at the gym and all hell breaks loose.”
“That’s why we aren’t going to tell him that little nugget of information,” Harleigh said.
“You’re such a badass, B. I like it.” Kye grinned his approval.
“Whatever Max’s reasons are for training at Buster’s are his. He can deal with the fallout.” She shrugged, and I nuzzled her neck.
“Your old man won’t like it,” I whispered.
“My old man can go to hell. He’s lucky I even let him in here.”
“Shit, Nix. You got your hands full there.”
Harleigh poked her tongue out at Kye and everyone laughed.
“It’s okay, B,” I said quietly, only for her. “I’m going to be okay.”
She was worried. About what came next. About me and Jessa and where we were going to go. About football and the future. But it just didn’t seem significant. Not when I might never have got to feel her in my arms again.
“Find something to watch or fuck off,” I said to the room. “I’m tired and I want to nap.”
“Damn, he’s a cranky patient.”
Harleigh shifted a little up the bed and slipped her arm around my shoulder so I could rest my head on her chest. “I’ll be right here,” she whispered.
And this time, I believed her.