“Sometimes people do things because they’re good people, sweetheart. Not sure why he’s here, though.” Xavier grimaced as the volume grew louder. “We better get out there or we’re all going to be spanked by Mary-Lee.”
She gave him a startled look and he winked.
“Okay, I’ll ask Kiesha to give me a ride to the motel.”
He sighed and shook his head, giving her a disappointed look. Fudge. She hated disappointing him. But before she could say anything, a loud whistle hit her ears and she glanced around to see Ed there. Holding a bunch of flowers.
What was he doing? Who were the flowers for?
“What the hell are you all doing here?” he asked as everyone fell silent and stared over at him.
“We’re here to pick up Georgie,” Kiesha told him. “Why are you here?”
“I’m here to pick up Georgina. I’m sure she’ll appreciate that you’re all here for her, but you’re making a lot of noise. She needs quiet and rest. So why don’t you all go home and I’ll let you know when she’s ready for visitors.”
Then he turned his head and seemed to see her straight away even though she was partially hidden.
“There you are. Ready to go?”
12
Ed had come to a decision sometime in the early hours of the morning.
When he’d left the hospital after Xavier told him Georgina wanted to be alone, he had told himself that was it. She didn’t need him. Didn’t want him. He wasn’t going to beat a dead horse.
Except, his brain wouldn’t let any of it go. The panic he’d felt when he’d seen her collapsed on the side of the road. How pale and fragile she’d been lying in
the hospital bed. The way she’d clung to him after her nightmare, when Greg had been spouting off about restraining her. The fact that she’d come here for a week. Her reluctance to call anyone from her family to help her.
His need to be around her, protect her. His jealousy over Xavier’s harmless flirting.
Despite the fact she’d run from him once, he felt something towards her. Something strong.
And he had a choice. Fight for her. Or let her go.
If he let her go without a fight then he knew he would regret it. And he wouldn’t get the answers he was after. He’d seen enough glimpses of a vulnerable side to make him think he was missing a lot. And he really didn’t like the idea of her being ill and on her own, with no one to care for her.
Sure, he could let her go home with any of the people currently arguing over her and she’d be taken care of. Well, maybe not with Remy. He didn’t know him. And how Juliet was going to take care of her, he had no idea.
But he wanted to look after her. He had this need to have her close, to watch over her.
And if he had to get bossy and throw his weight around a bit, well, perhaps that’s what she needed.
Or maybe she’d punch him in the nuts.
Guess he was going to find out.
He strode to where she sat in a wheelchair. Xavier was standing behind her, smirking, his hand lightly resting on her shoulder.
“Wanna remove your hand?” Ed snapped.
“Why would I want to do that?” Xavier asked.
“Remove it. Now.”
“Ed? What are you doing? Why are you snarling at Xavier?” she asked.
Xavier removed his hand and Ed grunted in satisfaction. Maybe it was a bit over-the-top caveman of him. But he’d decided that Georgie was meant to be his. And it seemed that he was rather possessive of what belonged to him.