Chapter 30
thirty
When I open my eyes again, I see the doctor hanging a fresh bag of fluids from the IV pole next to Everett’s bed. He injects something into the IV, then checks Ev’s pulse. Seemingly satisfied with his assessment, he nods his head and turns to leave.
“Thank you,” I say, trying not to wake Everett.
He gives me a smile, warm and wide. “I’m glad I could help.”
I slip carefully out of bed, knowing the painkillers Everett’s on will keep him asleep for a while.
Shaking the doctor’s hand, I follow him out the door.
Eli’s deep voice echos from a room down the hall and I follow it.
I find my friends sitting around a long table with Owen, Axel, the man I recognize as Decker from watching him help during eve’s surgery, and a few other men I’ve yet to meet.
Ember untangles herself from Eli’s hold, wrapping me tightly in a hug as soon as she sees me.
“He’s gonna be okay, Kels.” She whispers.
“Unfortunately, we’ll be subjected to the Foo Fighters again soon, I’m sure,” I joke.
“Come meet everybody,” she says, tugging me along behind her.
“Morning, cher. How’s your boy doin’?” Axel asks, and I smile.
“He’s doing really well, thanks. I can’t ever thank you all enough for everything you’ve done for him. For all of us,” I reply.
“?a c’est bon! Glad he pulled through, honey.” Owen says with a thick cajun accent. His expression tells me that whatever he just said must be good.
“Me too. Not sure what I would have done if -” I stop myself, not willing to even think about a life without Everett in it. “Anyway, who do we have here? I’ve met Axel, of course.”
“This is Decker, Jameson, Jagger, and Blaze,” he points to each man as he goes down the row and they wave.
“Your name is Blaze?” I quirk an eyebrow at the last guy.
“A far more suitable alternative to my given name, love,” the man shocks me with an English accent. A brit in the bayou? This place just gets weirder and weirder.
“Well, it’s nice to meet you all,” I say, dropping into the seat next to Aurora. She leans her head onto my shoulder almost immediately and the sense of calm I always feel with my chosen family washes over me. “Breaker, are you okay? I thought I saw a bandage the other day.”
“Just a flesh wound. I’ll live.” He pulls his sleeve up a bit to show me the neat line of stitches running through the Phoenix tattoo on his bicep.
“Good. No offense to you lovely gentlemen, but I’m ready to go home,” I say, eliciting nods from my friends next to me.
“We were actually just discussing that. We really need to get back to the kids and open the shop back up. Can’t pay Willow if there’s no money coming in,” Eli says. “Helo went home a few days ago, but he said he can be back here in a few hours whenever we’re ready.”
“Yeah, I’m sure I’m fired by now,” Rory says, dropping her forehead onto the table in front of her.
“I called your boss at the coffee shop. I told her you had a family emergency yesterday and might not be back for a week or so,” Breaker pipes up, looking anywhere but Rory’s face.
“You-you what? Why?” she asks. Some times I swear that girl is completely oblivious to what’s right in front of her.
“You said you needed the job. Didn’t want you to get fired,” he says so matter-of-factly, as if that’s something friends just do for each other. We all smirk at their exchange, no one willing to point out the obvious.
“Well, I’ll be glad to get home into my comfy leggings, climb into my own bed, and sleep for the next year or so,” I add, breaking the tension.
“Is Everett going to be able to fly?” Ember asks Doc.
“Well, it’s not the most ideal situation.
But he’s been stable for a few days now.
I gave him antibiotics to ward off any possible infection and I can send you home with painkillers.
He’s gonna need somebody who can stay with him 24/7 for the next week or so just to make sure he can get around ok.
Other than that, I don’t see why not,” Doc replies, easing back into his chair with a cup of coffee.
“I’ll be with him. I’m sure as sweet as he is, Breaker didn’t think to call my boss. Malcolm would use any excuse to fire me, which is honestly fine. I’ve been looking for other jobs anyway,” I stand, watching Breaker shoot me a go-to-hell look.
“You should talk to Jax when we get home! I think he mentioned something about the high school looking for a new guidance counselor. Sounds like it might be up your alley,” Ember chimes in.
Her suggestion piques my interest. I’ve always wanted to be in a position where I can use the degree I worked hard to earn. I can’t think of a better way to do that than by helping children.
“Thats not a bad idea,” I say, thinking it over in my head.
Axel scoffs from his side of the table, drawing our attention to him. “If I had a counselor that looked like you when I was 16, cher, maybe I wouldn’t have dropped out.” My skin heats, a blush creeping up my neck. Axel is an attractive man in his own right. He’s got nothing on Everett, but still.
“Damn, a school full of teenage boys? Maybe I should reconsider,” I joke and everyone laughs.
“I’m just sayin’ if the scenery is as pretty to look at as you are, the line for counseling is gonna stretch out the door,” Axel adds, shooting me a cocky smirk.
“Ya know, I’d really hate for this to be your last day on earth, bayou boy.” A familiar deep rumble comes from the doorway and we all turn to see Everett barely holding himself up against the wall.
“Oh my god, what the hell are you doing?!” I shout, jumping up and racing across the room to help him. I ease his weight onto my shoulders as he leans into me, never breaking eye contact with Axel.
“Everett, knock it off. Sit down right now.” Ember drags a chair next to me and I help him drop down into it. He winces almost imperceptibly but still stares Axel down.
“Don’t you worry, couyon. Ain’t nobody here tryin’ to steal your woman,” Axel replies with a salacious smile on his face. He knows he’s playing with fire, but he just doesn’t care.
“?a suffit!” Owen’s loud voice booms, and I see Axel’s expression falter. “The boy is still on the mend. Don’t make all Doc’s hard work go to waste when he kicks your ass, Axel.”
Axels scoffs loudly, pushing off from the table and getting up, “Allons-y!” The other mEmbers of the Bayou Reapers stand and follow behind Axel as he stomps away.
“You’ll have to excuse my son. He’s always been a bit of an asshole,” Owen laughs.
“I’m sure that’s landed him in some trouble a time or two,” Eli replies.
“Shit, you have no idea. I heard you say y’all have kids?” Owen asks.
“Yeah, twins. A boy and a girl,” Ember adds with a sweet smile. I know she misses her babies twice as much as I do.
“Bless y’all, they’ll give you a time, I’m sure. When they’re older, that is. But children are the pieces we leave behind in this life, joie de vivre,” Owen says with a grin that almost looks sad. I don’t speak French, but the love he has for his son shines in his eyes.
“The joy of living. Thats about right,” Everett says, reaching for my hand.
“Hold up, you speak French?!” I gasp.
“Un peu,” he replies, holding his fingers an inch apart. “But that’s Cajun French, right? Whole different ball game there, goddess.”
Owen laughs, nodding his head. “Different dialects down here, doll. But in the end, it’s all French.” He shrugs.
Breaker’s phone rings and he picks it up, mumbles a few words to the person on the other side, and hangs up. I swear that man could have an entire conversation with nothing but grunts.
“Helo said he’ll be here in about four hours,” he says, standing and walking out the back door.
“A man of few words, he is?” Owen asks.
“You nailed that,” Rory answers.
“He’s just upset because he’s madly in love with Rory and doesn’t want to be,” I joke, and Rory turns fifteen shades of red.
“Shut up, Kelsea. He can’t stand me,” Rory grumbles.
“Le coeur sait toujours,” Owen says, shaking a finger in her direction before he leaves. Everett laughs quietly to himself at whatever nugget of wisdom Owen just dropped and we all stare at each other, clueless.
“Whatever. I’m gonna go pack,” Rory says, standing and stomping out of the room.
“Let’s get our shit together, sunshine. I wanna see my babies,” Eli says, pulling Ember up and pushing her gently down the hall.
“You ready to go home, babe?” I ask Everett, knowing this experience has affected us all.
He stares into space for a few moments before nodding. “Yeah, I’m ready. Can’t believe I’m actually excited for shit to be normal again.”
“Let’s get you back in bed while I pack and get instructions from Doc.
Four hours is plenty of time for you to get some rest.” Helping him to his feet, I support his weight as we make our way back to our room.
He doesn’t even try to argue, so I know he must be exhausted.
Shifting him back onto the bed, my curiosity gets the better of me. “Hey, Ev?”
“Yeah?” He quirks an eyebrow up with his eyes already closed.
“What did Owen say back there?” I ask.
He laughs lightly to himself as he rubs his thumb across the back of my hand. “The heart always knows.”