“She almost died. Well, she would’ve if her mom hadn’t called me,” Rafferty explained.
“You talked to the dragon?” Mia questioned in awe. Ruth’s mom had earned the nickname early during their growing-up years.
“Yes, she called and asked if I would see if I would be compatible to give Angel a kidney. Hers were done.” Her kidneys had been failing most of her life at that point. She had barely graduated from high school because she had missed so many days.
Mia sat up and grabbed his hand in hers. “Were you?”
Smiling at her, he admitted, “I only have one now.”
“Ruth Kennedy has your kidney? But she hates you,” Mia said in awe.
“She doesn’t hate me. She hates Howard. I’m just guilty by association.” At least that was how Rafferty had always seen it, and she had every right to hate their father. The man had never acknowledged her as his child, even when he was still sleeping with her mother. Add to that Ruth had always had kidney issues, and he had never once been tested to see if he could give her the kidney she needed. The man had died with two healthy ones. Since it was Rafferty who had been able to donate one, his father would’ve probably been just as compatible as he had been.
“I can see it now.” Mia leaned back into the cushions. “You treat her like the big brother you are.”
“I do not.”
“Yes, you do. A few months ago, when she almost passed out at the bar? You’re such a great brother.” Mia smiled at him and squeezed his hand.
“I don’t think so. Just a friend. But more of a friend to her boyfriend.” Which was sometimes awkward when Anderson got all gushy about his girlfriend—which he tended to do more and more lately.
“Are you an overprotective brother? Anderson is practically living with her.”
Since Valentine’s Day, the two had been nearly inseparable. Only on book club night did he really get to spend any time with his friend, and that was usually only for the hours the club was meeting. Not that Rafferty could blame him. If he could spend all his time with Mia, he would.
“No, she’s happy with him. I’m glad she found him. Hopefully, he won’t mess it up.”
“Don’t you think she might mess it up?” Mia asked, leaning back on the couch, away from him.
“My sister doesn’t mess up, Mia.” He laughed, and it felt good to be happy again. To be with Mia.
“You’re right. Ruth is so Ruth. Anderson is going to mess that one up.” Mia smiled and turned to the TV that was showing some movie he hadn’t paid attention to. When a commercial came on, she turned back to him, “Can I see your scar?”
“What? You want me naked?” He laughed at her expression of surprise.
“No, just the scar. I don’t remember you having one,” she said, then bit her lip at her words.
“Are you having trouble remembering all the times you have seen me naked? I should be hurt.”
She let go of his hand to punch him in the arm.
With a laugh, he pulled his shirt from his pants and unzipped them. He loved that all her attention turned to him taking off his pants. So much so that he wished all her attention wasn’t on just his pants. Showing her the scar, he almost groaned when she touched it, her soft fingers hot on his skin.
“When did you have it done?” Her eyes were still on his skin and the faint scar.
“April, the year after I graduated.” Rafferty knew what she was thinking the moment he said it.
Pulling her hand away, she leaned back again and looked at him. “That’s when we … you know.” Blushing, she didn’t go on. She didn’t have to.
He remembered every moment of that April night, had dreamed of it many times over the years. He wished he hadn’t messed everything up so badly afterward.
“You mean when we made mad, passionate love, Mia?” He teased her, though it was how he had thought about it over the years. Love.
“No, I mean the night we fumbled our way through mediocre sex.” She punched him in the shoulder again.
Zipping his pants, he said, “Yep. I went for the surgery the next day.”
“Why didn’t you say that? You could’ve called.”