Chapter 9 #2
Eventually, Robbie scoots back in his seat, but the laughter seems to have lifted some lingering tension or worry.
“Your mom and dad went home a few hours ago, but they’ll be back later,” he tells me.
“Eliza dropped by before the clinic opened. True texted to get my coffee order, so I think he’ll be here in a bit too.
Wilder said he’s going to FaceTime later.
And Holden’s taking night shift with you after work, if you’re not already discharged by then. ”
“Nobody trusts me to stay in bed,” I grumble, though the reminder that they care makes my heart squeeze.
He shrugs. “No shit. They know you. Besides, you didn’t want to be alone, so we’re making sure you aren’t.”
I frown. I didn’t want to be alone? When did I say that? The giant bruise formerly known as my brain is still trying to parse this when there’s a knock on the door.
Auden stands in the doorway, shuffling his feet and holding a little vase of flowers.
“H-hey, Ames. Sorry. Maybe I should’ve waited for you to call, but—” He rushes to my side. “I was so worried, I had to come over here during my free period, just to be sure you were okay.” He leans down like he’s going to kiss me.
I turn my head at the last second, and his lips catch my cheek instead, but even that jostles my collarbone, and I wince.
“Careful!” Robbie barks.
“Oh, god, sorry!” Auden pulls back immediately. “God, I’m so stupid. Of course you’re in pain.”
“I’m okay,” I assure him. “No damage done.”
“Thank goodness.” He goes around the bed and sets the flowers on the windowsill, keeping a safe distance from Robbie for some reason. “These are for you.”
“They’re pretty. Thank you.” I wish I could be jokey or charming to ease his worry, but I’m exhausted to my bones. Every breath hurts, and my head pounds.
Robbie’s watching Auden with an expression I can’t quite read. Not quite hostile, but definitely not friendly.
And then there’s another sound at the door.
“ Knock, knock .” Lissa strides in, fresh and perfect and smiling. Her hair’s pulled back in a sleek ponytail, and she’s carrying an arrangement of roses and lilies that’s twice as big as Auden’s.
More like a funeral arrangement , I think uncharitably.
I feel small and dirty and stinky, like a tiny gremlin. Meanwhile, Lissa’s elegant and beautiful.
“Lissa.” Robbie frowns at her. “I thought I said?—”
“You did,” she admits. “I was going to wait for later. But I was so worried about both of you. And I wanted to get you a little something from us, Ames.” She lifts the vase higher.
The us gives me a stabbing pain worse than my fucking collarbone and causes the betraying asshole of a heart monitor to tick up.
“Th-thanks,” I manage. “Nice.”
Robbie looks like he’s literally biting his tongue.
“I don’t think we’ve met,” Lissa says to Auden. “I’m this guy’s fiancée.” She runs a hand through Robbie’s hair, messing up the strands I already messed.
My good hand clenches in the sheets.
“Oh, I’m Auden,” he says shyly. “Ames’s… kinda… boyfriend, I guess? ”
Robbie catches my eye and raises an eyebrow. I don’t squirm, but only because it would cause me intense pain.
Meanwhile, Lissa’s smile’s brighter than the Vegas Strip. “Oh my god! How amazing. And what lovely flowers.” She sets her own bouquet on the windowsill directly next to his, where it blocks out the light like a sequoia next to a sapling.
Auden ducks his head. “Not as nice as yours. But on our first date, I said how much I loved sunflowers, and Ames said he really loved them too, so I thought…”
Robbie’s gaze is still locked with mine, and he narrows it slightly. It’s a look that says, We both know tulips are your favorite flower.
I shoot him a glare that means, I was trying to find something in common.
He rolls his eyes minutely. Dumbass.
“Ames, I’m so glad you have someone who knows you so well.” Lissa moves to Robbie’s side and drapes herself against his arm like she owns it. Which I guess she does. Or soon will. “It’s the best feeling.”
I shift to sit up straighter, forgetting for a second that I’m not allowed to do that, and bite back a whimper.
“Ames,” Robbie chides, rushing to adjust my pillow.
Auden rushes to do the same on the other side, and the two men end up in a brief pillow tug-of-war that Robbie wins.
Kill me now .
“Rob,” Lissa says with a laugh. “You’ve been here all night, sweetie. Why don’t you let me take you for an early lunch?”
He shakes his head once. “True’s bringing me coffee. I’m good. ”
“I meant,” she says in a stage whisper, “why don’t you let Ames have a minute with his boyfriend ?”
Robbie looks at me, then at Auden. “Ames might need help getting up.”
“I can help,” Auden says, cheerfully ignoring how physics works. “I’m stronger than I look.”
“I—” I begin, then stop.
Auden’s looking at me expectantly. Lissa’s tugging Robbie’s arm.
And even though Robbie and I went through this big, traumatic ordeal together, outside this hospital room, nothing’s really changed, has it?
He’s still engaged. I’m still moving on. Right?
“I’m good where I am, anyway,” I say as casually as possible. “You can go.”
Robbie’s jaw locks, and my heart rate monitor ticks up, wondering if he’s going to argue, but he lets Lissa drag him to his feet.
“I’ll be back,” he tells me, Terminator-style.
“You don’t need to—” I start.
The look he gives me is full of so much love and protective fire, I low-key worry I might incinerate on the spot.
“I said, I’ll be back, Ames. Don’t you dare try to get out of bed without calling for help.”
“I can?—”
“That wasn’t a question. Say, ‘Yes, Robbie.’ Say, ‘I understand, Robbie.’”
I open my mouth to argue, but another glance at his face makes me close it again. “Y-yeah. Okay.”
He nods once and follows Lissa out.
I swallow hard .
What the fuck just happened? It’s like there’s someone new inhabiting my best friend’s body. And whoever he is, he’s?—
“Scary-intense,” Auden breathes, staring after Robbie with wide eyes. “Just like I told you.”
This time, I don’t argue.