“He’ll get nothing. Not one thing.” Dad turns and walks out the door.
“He doesn’t need a damn thing from you.” Tessa sobs, trying to free herself from CJ’s arms.
“Jesus, Mom.” CJ turns her around and looks at her. “Do you need something? Medication or—”
She shakes her head, and he pulls her into a hug.
Matthew and CJ both look completely shocked by Tessa’s outburst. John looks at me with a drug-induced grin, and I smile back.
“Apparently, you boys have never seen this side of your mother.” John chuckles. “Your father was a calm to this storm. Lucas, on the other hand—”
“Dad, don’t.” Tessa steps back and wipes her face. She looks around the room apologetically. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have … It’s just—”
“My grandfather is a shitbag.” Logan walks up to her and holds up his hand, waiting for a high-five.
She laughs nervously and gives him one.
I clear my throat. “Matthew and CJ, I am going to apologize in advance for how your mother is going to behave when we’re together. I seem to bring out the crazy in her.”
“That was bad ass, Mom.” CJ wraps his arm around her.
“I shouldn’t have … well, I should have many years ago. He—”
“You don’t have to explain, Tessa.”
She looks at me. “Is that your way of telling me to shut up, Lucas?”
I hold my hand to my chest, and her eyes about bug out. I laugh. “I’m gonna use that move more often.”
“You ass.”
I close my eyes and smile.
“Tired?” Ava and Tessa ask at the same time.
“Sorry,” Tessa says, and I open my eyes as she steps back.
“Yeah, no, don’t be.” Ava smiles at her then bends and kisses my cheek. “Sleep.”
I nod, and she looks at Tessa.
“Will you call me with any—”
“Of course I will.” Tessa nods.
Minutes later, the room is empty.
A nurse comes in and checks my vitals, and Tessa writes everything she says in a notebook. Once she leaves, Tessa grabs a hair tie out of her bag and pulls her hair up in a loose, sloppy bun.
“You better stop looking so damn sexy, or I am not going to be able to control myself.”
She climbs up and lies beside me.
“Your pain meds are gonna kick in, and you’ll fall asleep.”
“You’ll stay?”
“Sure will. You get to go home tomorrow afternoon.”