Chapter Thirteen #2
"I'll give you a shout tomorrow," said Ace. "Looks like we're gonna need another roster."
"What do you mean?"
Ace chuckled. "You know how we all take turns getting Alana home from rehearsals and Tanya where she needs to be?
Looks like we're gonna have to do the same thing with you.
You're not going to be able to drive, and I know damn well you're not going be able to sit on your ass at home.
We can figure it out between us to get you to your appointments if you want to go. "
"Thanks, bud. Appreciate that. I'll have to follow doctor's orders for a little while, but you're right; I'm gonna have to find a way to get myself around."
Travis joined Ace at the door and grinned. "We've got your back between us all. Right, Harper?"
Of course, Travis would be the one to spot her discomfort and make sure he did his best to include her. Emmett was relieved when she smiled back at Travis. "You know it."
Soon, Blane was the only one left, and Emmett wondered how long he planned to hang around. When Harper excused herself to go to the bathroom, Blane stepped forward. "Don't look at me like that. I don't intend to play chaperone all night, but I figured you'll want a hand getting to bed."
Emmett looked around. "Shit, yeah, you're right. Although, I think for tonight, I might just sleep here on the couch."
"Wherever you want to be, I'll get you set up."
Emmett was grateful that Blane didn't mention the downstairs bedroom. He'd converted it into an office a couple of years ago; there was no way in hell he'd ever want to sleep or spend the night in the room where Emily died.
"You think she's gonna hold up?" Blane asked, bringing him back to the present.
"I do. Why? Do you have a problem with her?" Emmett had to ask.
"Hell, no. She seems all right to me, but that's beside the point. I can see that she already means a lot to you. That's what matters. The only problem I'll have with her is if she ever..."
"She won't," said Emmett.
"Good."
"So, before I go, you want me to help you get set up for the night?"
"I think I'll maybe ask Harper to bring the bedding down here for me. Don't want her thinking that I'm asking you to do everything instead of her."
Blane pursed his lips. "Fair enough, if you think it'll make her feel at home. Are you going to ask her to help you hit the head as well?"
Emmett gave him a rueful smile. "No, but I'm not gonna ask you, either. I might be a bit beat up, but I still have some pride."
Blane's lips quirked up briefly. "Glad to hear it. For both our sakes. But listen, bud. You call me if you need me, okay? I already gave Harper my number. She has the same instructions."
"Do me a favor."
"What's that?"
"Have a word with her before you leave."
Blane cocked an eyebrow.
"I want her to feel like she's one of the team, Blane. Not some outsider who you have to give instructions to before you dare step away for twelve hours."
Blane checked his watch. "I'm stepping away for nine hours. But sure, I'll have a word with her." He met Emmett's gaze. "So, she really does mean a lot to you already?"
"Yeah, bud, she does. I don't know what to tell you. It's taken me by surprise."
"Hey, you don't need to explain yourself to me. She’ll need to prove herself, though."
Emmett scowled. "Didn't she already do that today?"
"In a way, yeah. It's good to know that she'll step up to help keep you safe. But that's different from knowing that she's not going to hurt you."
Emmett nodded. He knew there was no point in arguing; Blane had his best interests at heart.
"What do you say, then? Want me to walk you to the bathroom and wait outside? Neither of us needs me in there with you, but I can help you back here and see you settled before I leave."
Emmett gave his friend a rueful smile. "Want? Hell, no I don't. But need? Yeah, I can admit that much. Thanks, bud."
After he was settled back on the couch, Harper walked Blane outside, and Emmett rested his head back against the pillows as he listened to them talk. He couldn't make out what they were saying, but it was enough to hear the tone—it was the murmur of collaborators.
There was no antagonism there.
He opened his eyes when Harper came back into the living room. "Are you comfortable?" she asked. "Can I get you anything?"
"I'm good, thanks."
She raised her eyebrows.
"Okay, so good might be a stretch, but I'm okay. Can you pass me my phone, though? I need to talk to Cash."
She fetched his phone from the pile of things they'd brought home from the hospital. Deacon had the foresight to pick it up from the clinic while he was there.
"Are you going to talk to the girls?" she asked.
He pursed his lips. "Not if I can help it. I can't talk to them and not tell them. But I'd rather let them enjoy their night at Uncle Cash's place. They'll only worry when they know."
She nodded and handed the phone over. Something about her expression gave him pause.
"You think I should tell them?"
She shrugged. "It's not my place to say."
"It is when I'm asking."
"I think you should do whatever you think is best. It's just that I've been in their position. Then again, no. Ignore me. I always wished I'd had the chance to talk to my dad. But the outcome was different. You're going to be fine. They'll see you tomorrow."
He held her gaze for a moment. "Is that a story you want to share?"
"Maybe someday. Certainly not tonight. You give Cash a call. Can I get you anything? More tea?"
"I'm good, thanks." He gave her a rueful smile. "The more tea that goes in, the more will need to come out."
"I might not be as big as Blane, but I can help you get to the bathroom when you need to go."
"I know, thanks."
She checked her watch. "It's getting late. You should give Cash a call." She turned to go.
"You can stay," he told her.
"That's okay. I'm going to check the fridge and your cabinets. See what I can make you for breakfast." She smiled. "Blane said he'll be back at eight o'clock. I want to be able to prove to him that you were right about my cooking."
He watched her disappear into the kitchen before calling Cash.
"Hey, buddy, how you doing?" Cash answered.
"I've had better days, but I'll survive."
"Glad to hear it. I feel like a shit not being there for you at the hospital or at the house. But the others were there, right?"
"They were," Emmett assured him. "Everyone rallied around, as they always do."
"Blane still there?"
"No, he just left."
"Shit, really? I wouldn't have thought he'd leave your side."
"He didn't want to. But Harper's here."
Cash chuckled. "I wondered what would happen when the two of them met. Are you telling me she won?"
"I wouldn't go that far. But she got closer to winning him over than I would have dared to hope."
"Good to hear. Still sorry I wasn't there."
"I'm not, Cash. You're doing the most important thing anyone could do for me. You know that, right?"
"Sure I do. That's why I'm not there. And don't worry, they're fine. I stepped outside when I saw your name on my phone. We're going to watch a movie. You're going to let them stay the night, right?"
Emmett inhaled as deeply as he could, wincing at the pain in his chest. "You think it's the right thing to do?" he asked eventually.
"Damn, you must have taken a knock to the head if you're asking me for parenting advice."
"You know what I mean."
"Yeah, I do. And we both know it's your call. But I think they're better off spending the night here. And I'll tell them about what happened when I'm bringing them home in the morning."
"And they're having fun, right?"
Cash chuckled. “They’re with their Uncle Cash—of course they are. They've already turned this place into a cross between a five-star resort and a resistance cell.”
Emmett smiled, leaning his head back against the pillows. "What's the damage?"
"Well, I stepped out onto the porch to talk to you, but looking in through the window?
It's a madhouse. Tanya's currently swimming in my old hoodie with my headlamp strapped to her head.
I think she's planning a low-light reconnaissance mission on the cookie jar the second I fall asleep.
She's been trying to use my signal mirror to 'talk to the forest spirits' in the tree line for the last hour, and now she won't stop pestering me to show her how to 'escape' from the heavy-duty zip-ties I keep in my gear bag.
I managed to convince her that I'm not going to teach her how to pick a tumbler—yet. "
Emmett let out a soft, pained huff of a laugh. "Don't teach her anything that'll get me arrested, Cash."
"No promises, bud. And Alana... well, she's decided I'm a 'fixer-upper.
' She didn't have her bags, so she's been raiding my first-aid kit and the guest bath for anything that resembles a 'routine' for my skin to get into.
She's currently sitting at my kitchen table in one of my flannel shirts, sipping sparkling water like she's at a spa in Paris. She already gave me a lecture because I told her that diet soda’s a chemical disaster and she should be drinking full sugar like a normal person. Apparently, a man of my age should be more concerned about inflammation and insulin spikes. Unless I can somehow talk my way out of it, she’s going to give me a mani when I go back in there.
She's fifteen going on forty-five, Emmett.
"They both know damn well I'll let them stay up past their bedtime and treat them a little more like adults than is wise. They love it."
Emmett smiled. "They love you."
"And I love them right back. And Harper's good to keep an eye on you overnight?"
"She is. Trip's not happy about it, but... he gets it. He's just doing his job."
"Yeah. You wanna shoot me a text when you're ready for them to come home in the morning?"
"Sure, thanks, Cash. Although, how about you shoot me a text when you’re on the way—use your judgment about when."
"Copy that—and I'm gonna tell them on the way, if that's all right with you."
"Yeah. But make sure the first and last thing you tell them is that I'm all right."
Cash laughed. "What, because you think I don't know how to handle it?"
"I know you do. See you tomorrow, bud."
"You will. But if you need anything in the night, you tell Harper she's to call me, okay?"
"Will do. But she'll have to call Blane first. She knows she can handle you. She's not so sure about him yet."
"If we were talking about anyone else, I’d be offended. But since it's Blane, I get it."
"See you tomorrow, then."
"Yeah. See ya later. And Emmett?"
"Yeah?"
"Glad you're all right, bud."