Chapter 5
FIVE
Tarius woke up when his forehead crashed against the law book he’d been trying to read for the last two hours. Thankfully, as the firm’s senior paralegal, he had a private office, and no one had witnessed him falling asleep at his desk.
And not for the first time that week.
He wasn’t sleeping well. His brain was too damned full of fear and anxiety over Linus, who was still unconscious, despite his doctors ending the sedation for his medically-induced coma.
His infection had cleared up. He just needed to wake up, damn it.
Linus had been unconscious since the accident last weekend, but he was a fighter, just like his omegin, and he’d pull through this.
Tarius closed the book and rubbed his eyes, stomach churning at the idea of drinking any more coffee.
He was going to have an ulcer if he didn’t get some actual sleep soon.
Six nights in a row of tossing and turning like a rotisserie chicken was driving him as insane as having no good alone time with Branson since that almost-kiss.
He missed Branson like crazy. They still talked on the phone every day, but they hadn’t seen each other all week.
When Tarius wasn’t working—Ronin insisted Tarius could take time off, but Tarius needed the distraction—he was at the hospital with Dad and Liam.
He didn’t want to kick around the empty house by himself.
Tarius would have gladly accepted an invitation from Branson to crash at his place again, but Branson never extended the offer, and Tarius wasn’t going to ask.
He worried that things had gone to an uncomfortable place last weekend, that maybe he had read too deeply into the near-kiss, and this was Branson pumping the brakes.
And that was fine. They did share a unique chemistry, but they weren’t dating.
Maybe distance was a good thing?
Tarius opened his top desk drawer, found a roll of antacids, and popped one into his mouth. He cringed at the chalky peppermint, but it would help. Food might not be a bad idea, either. He’d only had half of a mostly-stale bagel for breakfast, and that had been hours ago.
His mobile rang. Linus’s hospital room. “I’m here.”
“Linus is waking up,” Dad rasped. “His eyelids are moving, his lips are moving, and if you can leave work—”
Tarius stood so fast his desk chair banged against the wall. “I’m leaving now, oh goddess, this is a blessing.”
“Yes, it is. I’ve got to go.”
“See you soon, Dad.” Tarius ended the call and barely had the forethought to text Ronin he was leaving and why, and then he was racing out of his office.
Goddess, please let this nightmare be over soon. Please.
A lot of people began filling the ICU waiting room as the news spread through their family and friends, and Tarius kept looking for the one he wanted to see most. Branson finally texted that he was on his way, and a bit of tension loosened from around Tarius’s chest.
Updates from Liam about Linus were brief, mostly “he’s groggy and trying,” and they fed Tarius’s frustration and anxiety.
Both emotions eased when Kell, Emory, Miko and Branson walked into the waiting room, and he only had eyes for Branson.
His kind, adorable, generous best friend and fellow beta.
And he melted when Branson came straight to Tarius and gave him a full-body hug.
Tarius relaxed against him and kissed his neck.
Branson shivered. They held each other for a long time, while others moved around them, until Kell Cross gently squeezed Tarius’s shoulder, effectively stealing his attention.
He had no choice but to let Branson go, but Branson stayed close, their fingers brushing.
In that moment, Tarius didn’t care what others might think.
“Are there any updates?” Kell asked.
“Dr. Westin is in with our parents,” Tarius said. “Demir, too. All I know is Linus is moving his head and his eyes, and his brain activity is up. It can take time to fully come around, especially with a concussion in the mix. I’m getting texts from Demir, but there isn’t a lot happening very fast.”
“Okay, thank you. Do you need anything?”
Tarius shook his head. “I just need Linus to look at me and smile.”
Kell squeezed his forearm then went to comfort Emory. Tarius allowed Branson to direct him to a chair, and they sat together. Friends. Best friends. And he fed on Branson’s strength, because Tarius had no strength of his own left. “I’m glad to see you,” Tarius whispered. “I’ve missed you.”
“Same. It’s been a hell of a week.” Branson gently pushed his shoulder against Tarius’s. “I’m thrilled that Linus is waking up. I know how the waiting tears you up inside.”
“I know you do.”
“And if I can be a good friend for a second? You look like hell.”
Tarius snorted. “I haven’t slept much. The house is empty, so I’ve been spending a lot of time at work. I keep falling asleep at my desk.” I think I could sleep next to you, but I can’t ask for that.
“Now that Linus is waking up, maybe you can come by soon for another massage. You deserve it.”
“I’d like that.” He wasn’t sure he deserved the pampering, but goddess, it would feel amazing. Branson’s capable hands working away stress and leaving him relaxed, boneless, and content. “I’m sorry I’ve been distant this week.”
“Hey, don’t do that. This is a completely unknown scenario, and you need to cope the best ways you know how. I’m not insulted that you chose to stay close to your family.”
“That’s why you’re an amazing friend, Bran.
” He looked across the room to where Layne was still pacing, upset, and Tarius wished he knew how to comfort his brother.
But Peyton was there, and if he was keeping his distance…
Layne needed his space. Ever since his battle with postpartum depression, it had been a learning curve to know when to press Layne, and when to give him room to breathe.
Right now, he was breathing as best as he could. They all were.
Time passed. Jax Jenks and Jaysan Danvers, two of Liam’s best omega friends, arrived to support their family. Tarius shook each man’s hand. Their arrival seemed to help Miko Tovey settle a bit. Miko had been incredibly agitated since yesterday, and Tarius wasn’t sure why.
Other than the obvious, but Miko had gone through his first heat while under sedation, and he’d been recuperating from his crash injuries for days now.
Silence fell across the room, and Tarius straightened.
Without thought, he reached for Branson’s hand, who squeezed tight.
Demir stood just inside the doorway, hands loose by his sides, face nearly as pale as his lab coat.
Concern compelled Tarius to stand, and he converged on his brother at the same time as Layne and Aven.
“He knows,” Demir said tearfully, before falling into Aven’s arms on a soft sob.
Linus knew he’d lost a piece of himself, that his life was forever changed. Tarius wrapped his arms around Demir and Aven, and then Layne when they became a quartet of support. Four of their five siblings.
Together.
Tarius hadn’t expected Branson to stick around the rest of the afternoon, but he did.
He was still in the waiting room when Tarius returned, after having finally visited with Linus.
He’d hated seeing his baby brother so upset and unsettled, but Linus was also showing incredible bravery in the face of a life-altering surgery.
When they finally got word that Linus was stable enough to be moved to an observation room, Tarius took that as the not-so-subtle, “Everyone go home and get some rest” it was meant to be. Visiting hours were ending soon, anyway.
“You’re coming home, right?” Tarius asked Dad, who had stressed himself into needing a wheelchair out of the hospital. “You need to sleep in your own bed.”
“Yes, we’re coming home tonight,” Dad replied, giving Tarius’s wrist a squeeze. He glanced past him, then met Tarius’s eyes. “Are you?”
As a former constable of several decades, Dad had an observant eye, so Tarius didn’t bother pretending. “I’m not sure. I’ll text you my plans when I know them.”
“Good man.”
Tarius leaned down and hugged his sire. “Love you, Dad.”
“Love you back, son.”
Branson met him in the corridor, and they walked toward the elevator together. “I don’t suppose I could bum a ride home off you?” Branson asked. “My car is at my parents’ house.”
“No problem,” Tarius replied. “Do you want to grab some takeout on the way? Maybe eat dinner together at your place?” His cheeks warmed. Had he seriously invited himself to Branson’s place to eat? Could he be more presumptuous?
Branson gave him a sideways smile. “I’d like that. Feeling up for anything special?”
He’d had a slice of pizza a little while ago, but he was craving something else. His diet this week had been terrible, full of greasy fast food and premade deli sandwiches. “This is going to sound nuts, but I’d love a salad.”
“A salad?” Branson pressed the elevator’s down button. “There’s no shortage of those around town. Feeling one in particular?”
“Do you know a restaurant called Carter Street Grill?”
“Yeah, I’ve driven past it a bunch of times, but I’ve never eaten there.”
Tarius pulled up a photo of the restaurant’s menu on his phone. He’d started saving those instead of hoarding paper menus. “Here, pick whatever you want, my treat.”
“Cool, thanks.” Branson spent the entire elevator trip down browsing the menu. “Actually, the salads sound amazing. I bet I can guess which one you’re going to order.”
“You think so?”
“Yeah, I do. Here.” Branson gave him the phone back. “Text it to me. Then I’ll make my guess, and we’ll see if I’m right.”
Tarius chuckled and did as asked. He hit send as he followed Branson off the elevator. “Okay, smarty pants. What am I ordering?”
“The spinach berry salad with balsamic vinaigrette.”
“Dude.”
Branson checked his texts. Laughed. “I know you, man. That sounds really good, but minus the bleu cheese. Not a fan.”
“Ask them to sub it for something else.”
“Good plan.”