Although, he’d never felt this way towards any of the other women he’d been involved with. Which told him he’d made the right decision.
“Hey, honey, how you doing?” He crouched in front of her, giving her a once-over. She stared at him, her mouth dropping open.
“Umm . . . I . . . what?”
“These are for you.” He was aware of everyone watching. And he didn’t give a shit. He handed her the flowers.
She grabbed hold, staring down at them.
“Wasn’t sure what you liked, so I just picked the biggest bunch they had.” He shrugged. He knew shit about flowers. But figured he couldn’t go wrong with whatever he chose. But seeing her struggling to hold them, he realized maybe he might have gone a bit big.
“Hope you’re not overcompensating for something,” Xavier snarked.
Ed glared at him. “I’m not.”
“What do you mean, overcompensating?” she asked.
“Doesn’t matter.” He moved the flowers to one side so he could see her face better. “You still look pale and tired. Didn’t you get any sleep? Did you eat? Are you sure she should be leaving?” He looked up to Xavier as he asked that last question.
“Wouldn’t be discharging her otherwise,” he said mildly. “Took you long enough to show up. Was beginning to think you wouldn’t.”
Ed just grunted.
“Ed? Why are you here?”
“Yes, Ed, why are you here?” Kiesha demanded. “I told you I was going to come and get Georgie. We’re besties. That’s why I asked for time off.”
Ed turned to frown down at her. Today she was wearing a bright yellow sweater. On the front were the words:
I have two moods.
1. Sweet and smiley.
2. I’ll cut you.
Dear God.
“Change your sweater before you get to work. Which is where you should have been thirty minutes ago.”
“But I told you I’m going on leave.”
“Which I told you that you couldn’t have.”
“Yeah, well, I was just going to take it anyway.” She waved her hand in the air. “What are you going to do, fire me?”
“Yes,” he bit out.
“Pfft, yeah, right. I’m family. I’ll tell your mom if you do. Right, Xavier, tell me what to do. Does she need to stay in the wheelchair? Because we might have problems with the stairs at my place. Although she’s small, I think I can carry her.”
“I know I can carry her,” Loki boomed. “And I have no stairs anyway.”
“I have stairs too,” Cleo added. “But O’Ryan has lots of muscles.”
“Thanks, babe.” O’Ryan winked at her. “Nicest thing you’ve said about me in ages.”
“And how is she going to get any rest with the two of you going at it all night?” Isa demanded.
Juliet leaned up to whisper into O’Ryan’s ear. He grimaced again. “Christ. Juliet said that Reuben would happily pay for any alterations to her place for Georgina’s needs.”