CHAPTER FORTY-TWO
Fallon
IWATCHED KYE’S STRUGGLE PLAY OUT IN THE TATTOOED FINGERS gripping mine.
The stark white hospital blanket that the kind nurse had laid over me when I started to shiver acted like a backdrop for the show.
He tried his hardest to keep those fingers on mine gentle, but they’d slowly tighten, his anger or fear taking hold.
Then he’d have to force them to loosen, and the process would start all over again.
I’d made a study of Kyler’s fingers over the years: long and strong, callused and broad. I’d watched as he added to the ink, bit by bit. But I’d missed something.
I stared at the finger with the black metal band and the patchwork of ink beneath it. It was a tapestry of hidden designs. I saw another sparrow peeking out of a tangle of vines and leaves and initials tucked into the curve of them. F.C.
“You have me on your ring finger,” I croaked.
The sound of my voice made Kye wince, and I didn’t blame him. It had gotten worse and worse as the hours progressed. Kye’s gaze dipped to his hand. “Only one person I’ve ever wanted there.”
But there was something about the way Kye said those words, like a bone-deep sadness coated every syllable.
I squeezed his hand hard, wanting him to know I was strong. “I’m fine.”
There’d been no argument about me going to the hospital. An ambulance had come, and Kye had gotten right in the back with me. The demons flaring in his eyes told me not to fight it.
“You don’t know that. We’re waiting for a CT scan to make sure there are no injuries to your goddamned brain. So, you don’t know.”
“Kyler,” I whispered.
He scrubbed his free hand over his face. “I’m sorry. You don’t need that. Don’t need—”
I squeezed his hand again, putting all my force into it. “Let me tell you what I need. Right now, it’s you here, holding my hand. You not hiding what you’re feeling from me.”
Kye met my gaze, his amber eyes blazing. “Can’t give you that last part. Not right now.”
I knew it was because he didn’t trust himself. Thought if he let it out, it would drown him.
I traced circles on the back of his hand. “Okay. Not right now.”
The curtain pulled back just as he jerked his head in a rough nod.
“Knock, knock,” a feminine voice said as she entered the little cubicle. She looked to be in her mid-fifties with golden skin and black hair with hints of silver threaded through it. “I’m Dr. Alvarez. How are you feeling, Ms. Colson?”
“Please,” I rasped. “Call me Fallon. My throat hurts a little, but that’s it.”
“She was wincing earlier,” Kye argued. “Do you think you could get her some painkillers?”
Dr. Alvarez’s expression softened. “Are you in pain anywhere other than your throat?”
I shook my head, regretting the move when my neck protested. “Just my throat and neck. Maybe a little sore from hitting the wall.”
Kye’s hand spasmed around mine.
“Okay.” Dr. Alvarez crossed to me, pulling a penlight out of her pocket. “Any dizziness or nausea currently?”
“No.”
She flashed the light across one eye and then the other.
“Good news. Your brain looks perfectly healthy and injury-free on the CT scan. I’m not seeing or hearing any signs of concussion.
Your throat should feel better in a couple of days, but it may take a couple of weeks for the bruising around your neck to go away. ”
She sent me a soft smile. “Lots of tea with honey for your throat. Soft foods like soup and mashed potatoes. You can take ibuprofen and Tylenol, and if it’s bad, I’ll send you home with a prescription for something a little stronger.”
“You don’t need—”
“Sparrow,” Kye said, cutting me off.
I heard such pleading in his voice that I couldn’t find it in me to argue.
“You don’t have to take it if you don’t want to, but it’ll be good to have. Are there addiction concerns?” Dr. Alvarez asked. “Because we can make a plan for that.”
“No, nothing like that. I just don’t think I’ll need it.”
“Okay, then. We’ll send it home with you, just in case. If the pain gets to a six on a scale of ten, I want you to take it. Sound good?”
I nodded, making the pain in my neck flare.
Kye looked up at the doctor. “You’re absolutely sure there’s nothing we need to be concerned about? Could there be something the CT couldn’t see? Are there other tests we should do? I can pay out of pocket.”
Dr. Alvarez’s soft expression turned Kye’s way then.
“We don’t see anything concerning. These types of incidents are always scary, but Fallon is lucky.
She defended herself. She got away. If she seems confused, throws up, or gets dizzy, bring her back.
But I don’t think she’ll experience any of those things. ”
“Maybe you should admit her just to be safe—”
“Kyler,” I said gently. “I don’t want to stay in a hospital. I want to go home and sleep in our bed.”
“Rest is the best thing for Fallon right now. And she’ll likely get more of it at home,” Dr. Alvarez pointed out. “I know Dr. Avery is your personal physician. I’m sure he’d make a house call to give you a once-over tomorrow.”
“I’ll text him now.” Kye pulled his phone out of his pocket and started angrily texting with one hand while still holding mine with the other.
I sent Dr. Alvarez a pleading look, hoping she would understand what I was asking for.
She nodded slightly and turned back to Kye. Once he’d finished his text, she said, “Fallon is going to be just fine. She’s very lucky to have you looking out for her.”
Kye’s gaze flicked up to the doctor, a tortured look in his amber eyes. “You’re right. She’ll be just fine.”
Neither of us missed his lack of response to the other part of Dr. Alvarez’s statement. She cleared her throat. “All right. I’ll just get those discharge papers ready. You have quite the crew waiting for you in the lobby. Would you like me to update them?”
Kye shoved back his chair. “I’ll do it.”
I opened my mouth to argue but then quickly shut it.
Kye bent, his gaze zeroed in on my neck as he moved. He brushed his lips across my temple. “Be right back.”
Dr. Alvarez stayed behind for a moment as Kye strode out of the little cubicle.
She sent me an understanding look. “It can be hard for those who charge themselves with our protection. When something happens to us, they can take it as a personal failure. Give him time, and make sure he talks to someone.”
She spoke as if from personal experience, and that ache settled deeper in my chest. “I will … I just … none of this is his fault. But he’ll take it on anyway.”
She reached out and squeezed my hand. “Don’t let him.”
My eyes burned as the doctor left the room because I knew Kye’s demons had a hold of him now. I would have to beat back every single one.
Covered in blankets, I burrowed deeper into the couch, surrounded by the entire Colson crew, minus Trace and Anson.
There was no way to shelter the girls from what was happening.
They would’ve instantly realized something had happened by looking at my neck.
Ellie and Mom had done their best to prepare them, but all three had started crying when they saw me.
Endless hugs and a few jokes later, they’d settled a bit.
Mom had put on a huge pot of soup, and Sutton had made two loaves of delicious bread.
Rhodes had brought a ton of cut flowers over and got the girls making bouquets to “bring the happy” to the house.
And it had helped to give them something to do. A purpose.
Kye’s tattooed fingers pulled my blanket up a little higher. “How are you feeling now? What’s the pain level?”
I glanced over at him, trying to read the thoughts swirling in those amber eyes. “I’m a lot better. The tea and soup helped. I’m probably a three.”
Kye frowned, and I suddenly wished I’d said one. I lifted an arm from under the blanket. “I’m good, really. I just want you to check my tattoo and make sure nothing got messed up.”
“I’m sorry, did you say tattoo?” Cope asked incredulously.
My cheeks heated a bit. “Yes. Kye gave me my first tattoo yesterday.”
Lolli’s eyes brightened. “I love it. But I wish you’d consulted me first. You know I have lots of ideas for artistic expression.”
Rhodes snorted. “Yeah, if you wanted penis pumpkins, donut dicks, or an elven throuple on your ass cheek.”
“Rhodes Stirling,” Mom clipped. “Watch your language around tender ears.”
Gracie frowned. “What’s a throuple?”
Keely rolled her eyes. “I tried asking, and they wouldn’t tell me.”
Ellie pinched the bridge of her nose in a very Trace-like move. “Trace is going to have a conniption.”
“Thoughts and prayers for the teachers of any of these children,” Sutton called from the kitchen.
Linc rubbed Arden’s belly. “Definitely investing in ear protection for these little ones.”
Arden looked up at him. “I don’t think there’s enough ear protection in the world to protect us from Lolli.”
She let out a huff. “I would’ve thought all your coupling up would’ve led to a little more living by now. I’m worried about your extracurricular activities if you’re this prudish.”
“You know I’ll never let our coupling end in prudishness,” Walter said, waggling his eyebrows as he set down a platter of baked goods he’d brought from The Mix Up.
“You can’t pin me down, you old-timer,” Lolli shot back as her cheeks pinked. “But you are a step up on the interesting meter given this lot.”
Shep wrapped an arm around Thea, trying not to laugh. “If this leads to Cope talking about his dick size again, I’m out.”
“Shepard Colson,” Mom warned.
Thea just laughed, shaking her head. “It wouldn’t be a Colson family gathering if there wasn’t a phallic conversation of some sort.”
Everyone laughed at that. But as they did, the front door opened. Trace, Anson, Gabriel, and Dex made their way inside, the heaviness of the day clearly still with them. But there was something more.
Kye sat up, his gaze sweeping over each of their faces. “You found something.”